St Colum’s Primary School along with Portstewart Primary School have scooped 2 awards In the Rolls Royce UK wide competition.

With an ECO-focused, engineering based project that shared expertise and resources between the two schools involving over 420 pupils, the Portstewart schools were shortlisted down from circa 2000 entries in the whole of the UK to the final 6. They attended the Science Prize Award ceremony held in the Science museum in Kensington, London to see what the judges thought in comparison to other 5 finalists. There were 4 prizes, top prize if £15k, 2ND of £5k, Rolls Royce Employee Award and last but not least the Eden Award.

Project leader, Louise Gilmore was delighted by the result. “We can't believe we're bringing back two such lauded awards from this event.”

“We can't wait to show the children and our colleagues the result of their hard work in school!” Grainne McGoldrick, St Colum’s Primary School.

First to be announced on the night was the Eden Award, presented by Sir Tim Smit CEO of Eden Project.   “As he introduced the award it sounded like our project but we dared not believe it” said Gayle Murray, P3 teacher Portstewart Primary School, “when he said they were unanimous in their decision we were extremely proud of the recognition for the fact our project was Eco-Focused from the outset.”

St Francis' Primary School and Bunscoil Naomh Proinsias, Lurgan is one of five schools in NI and the only maintained school this year to achieve International School status. On Tuesday 14 November Mr Dwyer Coleman, International Links co-ordinator, accompanied by Mr Anthony Mc Morrow, Principal and Dr Michael Mc Enery, Chairman of Governors, received the award at a formal ceremony at The Titanic Building in Belfast. Mr Coleman paid tribute to the great work of pupils and staff in links with Lebanon and China and outlined the programme of activities across the past two years in which all 819 pupils participated. The school is now proud to display the ISA logo on all communications with parents and the wider world.

On Wednesday 8 November 2017 the conference for ‘New Principals’ was held in CCMS Lisburn office.

• CCMS Purpose / Role – Mr Malachy Crudden, Senior Education Adviser
• Leading Learning – Mr Tony Scullion, Senior Education Adviser
• CCMS Structure – Miss Shirley McKenna, Senior Education Adviser
• Staff Wellbeing and PRSD – Mr Brendan Hardy, Senior HR Adviser
• From Principal Appointment to Leading Learner – Ms Fiona Kane, Principal, Lismore Comprehensive School

Well done to Shona McAteer, pupil of Carrick Primary School, Warrenpoint who has been named as one of the winners in this year’s Anti-Bullying Campaign. Shona will receive her prize on Monday 13 November 2017 in Belfast City Hall. Well done Shona!

Thirty-one teachers will leave the profession under the Investing in the Teaching Workforce scheme. Departures will take place between December 2017 and March 2018.

Job opportunities for recently qualified teachers will be advertised by the Education Authority and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) during the week beginning 30 October 2017.

The aim of the pilot scheme is to refresh the teaching workforce by enabling the release of teachers aged 55 years and over whilst providing job opportunities for teachers who have qualified to teach in 2012 up to and including 2016.

An evaluation will be carried out to see if the anticipated benefits have been realised after which the Department will decide on next steps.