Primary Project

The Primary Project, which began in September 2002, is now getting ready to publish its materials. Funding for publication has been delayed but it is expected that interactive materials will be available on the Learning PlatformNI at the end of March 2006

The materials which have been produced are for children in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

 

In September 2002 a Primary Project was set up with the appointment of Mrs Andrea Gilbert and Mr Rob Evans, both seconded teachers. Draft materials were produced and in September 2003, Mr Jim Millar was appointed. The inhouse publication of these materials commenced and a schools trial was set up.

Schools trialling began in the spring of 2004 and was completed in the autumn term. In 2005, materials were revised and made ready for publication. After consideration of various publication options, the Agency decided that online publication through the Learning PlatformNI was the preferred route.

in November the Agency commissioned CCEA Multimedia designers to put the materials produced by Stranmillis Curriculum Development Unit on-line. A launch date in March is envisaged.

Background

A visit to Gracehill Primary School in 2003 took place before the official schools trialling began and was recorded in the press and is quoted below. 

When Ballymena Principal, Lexie Scott and his pupils, from Gracehill Primary School, were shown some of the Primary materials at an early stage, Mr Scott welcomed the project. 

He said:  "I think it's important that all our young people are able to share in the rich cultural diversity of Northern Ireland.  I believe that the oral tradition of Ulster Scots is valued and shared by our young people."

Mrs Avery said:  "As this is the first year of the initiative, the main aim for the two teachers is to take the lead role in developing educational materials for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils."

"The project is going well.  The project officers have been meeting and consulting all the interested groups and have completed a pack of background information for teachers to accompany the curriculum materials."

"Our aim is to have the foundation of the new courses and teaching materials researched and planned by August.  These will then need to be published as attractive resources for use in the classroom."

A spokesman for the Agency said that it would be soon a statutory duty to offer the option of Ulster-Scots language, history and culture teaching in schools. "Primary schools will not be obliged to teach Ulster-Scots in schools, but as this process has already begun in some far-thinking schools in the Co Antrim area, we believe that these new courses and materials will be very much in demand."

"It is the Agency's ultimate aim to continue this work through to secondary level so that by the end of this decade, Ulster-Scots courses will be taught in primary and secondary schools."

The materials are varied in scope and style and will provide opportunities for the children in Primary classrooms to learn more about Ulster-Scots language, history and culture in new exciting ways.