Lagan College

Lagan College is an integrated[3] secondary school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It holds a total of around 1540 students. It was formed in 1981 as the first integrated school in Northern Ireland and contains students of mainly Roman Catholic and Protestant faiths, however students from other faiths also attend the school.

Lagan College Belfast
200x200
Address
44 Manse Road[1]

Belfast
,
County Down
,
BT8 6SA

Northern Ireland
Coordinates54.5609°N 5.8863°W / 54.5609; -5.8863
Information
TypeGrant Maintained Integrated
MottoUt Sint Unum
(That they may be one)
Established1981 (1981)
StatusOpen
Local authorityEducation Authority
PrincipalAmanda McNamee MBE[1]
Staff184[2]
GenderCo-educational
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1430[3] As of 2022
Capacity1400
Colour(s)   
     (Sixth Form)
Websitewww.lagancollege.com

The school is situated on National Trust land, overlooking Belfast. It is named after the River Lagan, which flows through the city. It is one of Northern Ireland's most oversubscribed secondary schools.

History

Lagan College was founded as a response to the conflict in the community and to the religiously divided school system in Northern Ireland. Most Catholic children attended Catholic-maintained schools, while Protestant school children mainly attended state (controlled) schools.

Origins

In the early nineteen seventies a group of parents called ‘All Children Together’ wished to explore the idea of sharing their children’s education with other families of differing religious affiliations and cultural traditions. They sought to establish an “integrated school”.[4]: 21  They published a paper in 1976 suggesting how it could be done, it was opposed by the churches.[5]

The 1978, Dunleath Act (Education NI) allowed existing schools to transform to integrated status.

In 1981, Lagan College was the first integrated school to open.[5] The school started in the Scout's Ardnavally Activity Centre with 28 pupils on roll.[6] It moved into a redundant primary school at Castlereagh, and then into the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum owned Manor House at Cultra. It became a grant maintained school in 1984.[6] A permanent site on National Trust land was found at Lisnabreeny and was housed in temporary facilities until September 1991.[6]

Legislation

The political mood was changing. In 1986 a further act, made it easier to open integrated schools and on the back of this, NICIE was established in 1987 to assist.[4]: 22  Then, in 1989, came The Education Reform (NI) Order 1989 which provided the statutory framework for the development of integrated schools. Article 64 stipulates that "it shall be the duty of the Department to encourage and facilitate the development of integrated education." Part VI defines two types of integrated school: grant maintained and controlled integrated schools. DE began to grant-aid schools with revenue funding.[4]: 22  In 1991, the college was granted Grant-Maintained Integrated School and is fully funded by the Department.[6]

Permanent buildings

Approval for the completion of the permanent buildings was given in 2002 under the Department's private finance initiative at a cost of £11.1 million. New buildings were opened in 2014.[7]

With the current educational climate in Northern Ireland, Lagan College stands among the top post-primary education secondary schools. While its focus has been on integration in terms of religious background, the school also integrates children in an 'all-ability' context accommodating children with a variety of academic backgrounds. With that in focus, Lagan College remains one of Northern Ireland's most oversubscribed schools.[8] In 2017, the intake was 200 per year, with 100 in year 13, when it was raised to 200.[9]

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. "Contact". Lagan College. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  2. "Staff". Lagan College. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  3. "Standard Inspection - Lagan College". Education Training Inspectorate. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  4. "The Report of the Independent Review of Integrated Education | Department of Education". Education. 1 March 2017.
  5. "The History of NICIE | Integrated Education Northern Ireland". www.nicie.org. 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  6. "History". Lagan College. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  7. "O'Dowd officially opens new building for Lagan College | Integrated Education Northern Ireland". www.nicie.org. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  8. Colhoun, Ciara (14 December 2018). "Belfast college's popularity sparks plans for a new secondary school". BelfastLive. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  9. Doyle, Simon (21 February 2017). "Lagan College allowed to admit 100 extra pupils". The Irish News. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  10. "The Big Interview: Clare Bailey deputy leader of the Green Party - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  11. Corr, Shauna (13 May 2021). "Belfast man wins award for convincing UK Government to stop funding fossil fuels". BelfastLive. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  12. "Good Luck Matthew! - Lagan College". Lagan College. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  13. "Brian Milligan: 'It's fantastic to get the chance to work with Robert Redford'". Belfast Telegraph. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2016.

Sources
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