Category: Stranmillis News

With a big Santa “Ho Ho Go!” an amazing 595 schools and Early Years settings took part in The Daily Mile Santa Run on Friday 3 December, across Northern Ireland.

The event was organised by the Daily Mile Network NI to encourage children and all people to participate in the Daily Mile. The day aimed to raise awarenes of the positive impact being active can have on children’s mental health and wellbeing.

The Daily Mile™ initiative was started nine years ago by headteacher Elaine Wyllie in Sterling, and has since enjoyed momentous success with three million children worldwide now running a mile a day across 13,500 schools in 88 countries.

Dr Brenda Mc Kay-Redmond, co-Chair of The Daily Mile Network NI and Stranmillis University College lecturer, would like to thank all the children, staff, school and early years settings that took part and succeeded in making this an overwhelming success. “This has been phenomenal! Witnessing children in their Christmas attire carrying out fifteen minutes of exercise, jogging or walking, outside safely can contribute to them becoming happier, fitter and stronger. Self-esteem, wellbeing and satisfaction can also improve mental health, so let’s keep our hearts and minds healthy by having fun, friendships, fitness and freedom in the fresh air.”

Clare Drummy, Physical Activity Coordinator and Daily Mile Network NI member, says: “We are thrilled with the number of schools and early years settings who have participated in the Santa Run event. There is real appetite out there for The Daily Mile initiative across all settings. It’s free and evidence shows the huge benefits it has on children’s physical health, but also on concentration, focus, mood and behaviour. Our regional aim is to get all children everywhere participating in the inclusiveness of The Daily Mile™ in Northern Ireland.”

Colette Brolly, the Public Health Agency’s lead on physical activity said: “We were delighted to support the Daily Mile Santa Run. This was a fantastic achievement to get so many children moving on the same day, having fun and celebrating the positive benefits that daily activity can have on their physical health and emotional wellbeing.”

Wishing all a Happy and Healthy Christmas!

We would like to encourage all schools and early years settings in Northern Ireland to sign up to The Daily Mile™. To register for The Daily Mile™ please visit:  https://thedailymile.co.uk/

In light of the events in the past year, children’s mental health, and its relationship to physical activity, is more important than ever.  The Daily Mile™ is a UK-wide initiative which gets children out of the classroom for 15 minutes every day, to run or jog at their own pace. Whilst making them fitter, healthier and able to concentrate in the classroom, it has huge social and emotional benefits too.

On Friday 3 December,  595 local primary schools and early years setting took time out of the classroom to take part in the Daily Mile NI Santa Run. The Minister for Education, Michelle McIlveen, Stranmillis University College Principal and CEO Professor Jonathan Heggarty and Daily Mile Network NI co-chairs Dr Barbara McConnell and Dr Brenda McKay-Redmond joined staff and pupils at Comber Primary School for #TheDailyMile Santa Run!

Co-Chair, Dr Barbara McConnell, commenting on the success of the day, said: “We wanted as many schools and early years settings as possible around Northern Ireland to get moving on the same day and celebrate the positive benefits that daily activity can have on our mental health. Having almost 600 schools and early years settings register to take part in this event is hugely encouraging and a great endorsement of the principles behind The Daily Mile.”

Q: My decision is still ‘Pending’ on UCAS?

A: If your decision is still ‘Pending’ on UCAS, it is because either, we have not received all of your results from UCAS or because you did not meet the conditions of your offer.

If you have received all of your results and believe you have met the conditions of your offer, please email a scanned copy of your certificate(s) to registry@stran.ac.uk

While you wait for a decision to be made on your Firm Choice, you may wish to be considered for one of the Foundation Degree programmes offered by Stranmillis University College and delivered at our partner FE Colleges, please click here to register your interest. (Please note, there is only a small number of spaces available on these courses.)

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CourseEnquiryForm2021/

You may also wish to consider other options in Northern Ireland while we make our decision on your application. Please visit the below links for further information:

https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/routes-to-university/

https://www.stran.ac.uk/routes-to-university/

Q: I am interested in one of your courses in Clearing, how do I apply?

A: If you would like to be considered for one of the Foundation Degree programmes offered by Stranmillis University College and delivered at our partner FE Colleges, please click here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CourseEnquiryForm2021/

A member of the Admissions team will assess your application against the availability of places and will be in touch with you over the coming days.

Q: I am on the Reserve List; how will I know if I get a place?

A: We are currently waiting on applicants who have been given an offer to accept or decline their place. If a space does become available on the course, then a member of the Admissions team will be in touch with you.

Q: I wish to withdraw my application; how do I do that?

A: You can use the Self-Release function on your UCAS Track. Alternatively, you can send an email to registry@stran.ac.uk and ask to have your application withdrawn. Please include your name, UCAS ID and course in the email and include if you wish to be released into Clearing or if you wish to withdraw from UCAS.

Q: I am appealing my grade, what do I need to do?

A: If you are appealing a grade, you must notify us of the result of the appeal before Wednesday 8^th September. We will honour a remark until the 8^th of September if you meet the original conditions of your offer. Beyond this date we are not obliged to consider remarks, but we will of course try to be as accommodating as possible if places are available. You should be aware that grades may go down as well as up following an appeal.

Q: I wish to defer my offer until next year, can I do that?

A: We do not accept deferred entry onto any of our courses. If you are wish to commence your studies in September 2022 then you will need to withdraw your application and reapply through UCAS next year.

If you have any questions about anything not covered above, please call Academic Registry on 028 9038 4263. This line will be open during the  following times :

Stranmillis University College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Jonathan Heggarty to the position of Principal/CEO who will take up post following the retirement of our current Principal/CEO Professor Anne Heaslett.

Prior to his appointment to Principal & Chief Executive Officer of Stranmillis University College, Dr Jonathan Heggarty was Director of Curriculum and Learner Success at Belfast Metropolitan College from 2015.

A graduate from Queen’s University Belfast, Dr Heggarty started his career within the IT sector as a software engineer developing a range of products for multinational technology companies. In 2003, he became a lecturer within Further Education and has held several curriculum positions within the sector. In his role as Director of Curriculum and Learner Success, he led and managed the delivery of a wide range of full-time, part-time and work-based-learning further and higher education programmes to over 14,000 learners annually. He also led the development of a wide range of programmes designed to meet the needs of learners and employers.

Dr Heggarty is passionate about promoting the importance of education and was the founder of several initiatives including Coder Dojo Belfast which is the largest coding club for young people in Northern Ireland.  Dr Heggarty was awarded the MBE in December 2017 for services to Further Education in Northern Ireland.

In relation to his appointment, Dr Heggarty stated “I am delighted to be appointed as Principal & Chief Executive Officer of Stranmillis University College. Under the leadership of Professor Anne Heaslett, the College has enriched its well-deserved reputation for excellence in teaching, research and scholarship. I am privileged to take up this role and I look forward to leading the extremely talented and dedicated Stranmillis team.”