Active Schools Pilot Update

Education Minister, Lady Mary Peters & Lord Mayor Attend Active Schools Pilot Update

Following the launch of Stranmillis University College’s Active Schools Pilot in January, the Education Minister Mr Paul Givan MLA, Lady Mary Peters and Lord Mayor of Lisburn Mr Kurtis Dickson attended an update presentation on Wednesday 28^th November 2024.

The Active Schools model designed by Dr Melanie McKee, a senior lecturer from Stranmillis University College, is being piloted in collaboration with Simon Patterson, the principal of Fort Hill Integrated Primary School. The aim of the Active Schools pilot is to assist with advocating for a strategic and sustainable, cross-departmental investment in an Active Schools programme for schools in Northern Ireland. An Active School values, promotes and develops every child’s physical literacy by creating a physically educated and physically active school community. Hence, it will provide multiple opportunities to increase physical activity and develop physical literacy, for example, through active travel to/from school, active breaktimes, active play, active classrooms, PE, after-school clubs and active home learning.

The update presentation, which was hosted at Fort Hill Integrated Primary School was also celebrated and attended by Professor Patricia Eaton (Stranmillis University College); Emmett McCann (Department of Education); alongside Eileen Watson MBE and Susan Jones (Fort Hill Integrated Primary School).