MILL STRAND - HISTORY IN THE MAKINGMill Strand Integrated School is situated on the outskirts of Portrush, overlooking the beautiful West Bay (Mill Strand). The school attracts pupils from Castlerock, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Portstewart, Portrush and the surrounding area. Only 7 minutes drive from Coleraine and with an entitlement to free travel for pupils living more than 2 miles from the school, integrated education is closer than you think!
First opened in 1987, Mill Strand Integrated Primary School remains the only integrated primary school in the wider Triangle area. It is hard to imagine now, but to set up the school a group of families had to actually remortgage their homes to raise the funding and the school ran on charitable donations for two years before the Education Minister Brian Mawhinney gave Integrated Schools recognised status. The founding members, Alan and Elaine Smith were joined by: Hylda Armstrong, Alan McCully and Claire Guyer, Stuart and Leslie Marriott, Bill and Mary O'Neill, Stephen and Cybilla Steger-Hoey, Evanne and Philip White, Jim and Joyce Cavalleros, Dot and Derick Wilson, Keiran Mullan and Fiona Stelfox. John Darby was later on the North Coast Trust. The video opposite is a recording of Derick Wilson on BBC Inside Ulster explaining the rationale behind the actions of the founders and it further outlines the many challenges they faced, particularly regarding raising the funds to set up, start and run a school. It was only thanks to major funders facilitated by Anthony Tomei, Nuffield and Steve Pittam , J Rowntree Charitable Trust, that the school was able to open and operate for the two years before Integrated Schools were recognised and funded by the Department of Education. Even with 80% support/desire for integrated education in polls, it is exceptionally difficult to open a new integrated school, indeed a new Grant Maintained Integrated School hasn't been allowed to be created in over 18 years, leaving many families without the option of an integrated place for their child.... you can't go to a school that doesn't exist or one that has no places because its 'capped' and not allowed to grow. Thirty-five years on from the opening of Mill Strand Integrated School, this makes the achievements of the school's founders all the more remarkable. In 2016, the school submitted development proposals for growth of both its school and nursery to meet the increasing demand for integrated education. Despite opposition from other sectors, parental demand was eventually recognised and the school allowed to increase its intake with the approval of DP 483 in 2017 and DP 542 in 2019. Appendix E of the DP 483 & 484 Decision and Appendix 2 of the DP 542 Decision illustrate the challenges faced by integrated schools in trying to meet parental demand and the systemic opposition to change.
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First day of Mill Strand Integrated School - 1 September 1987
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The completion of Mill Strand's new state of the art school on the Ballywillan Road in Portrush, scheduled for the Spring of 2024 will be a landmark in the history of the school, securing high quality, child centred integrated education on the North Coast for generations to come.
The school adheres to the ‘Principles of Integrated Education’ and is the only primary school in the area to do so. As such, Mill Strand Integrated School provides a high quality of education for all, regardless of ability or religious belief, educating these pupils all day, every day in an educational environment that actively promotes an 'integrated ethos'.
The school adheres to the ‘Principles of Integrated Education’ and is the only primary school in the area to do so. As such, Mill Strand Integrated School provides a high quality of education for all, regardless of ability or religious belief, educating these pupils all day, every day in an educational environment that actively promotes an 'integrated ethos'.
PROMOTING EXCELLENCE, CELEBRATING DIFFERENCE
As an Integrated School, Mill Strand delivers recognised preparation for Sacraments as an integral part of the school day for those pupils requiring it. In an inclusive sharing community the school has strengthened its links with all of the main churches in the area, holding annual Harvest and Christmas Carol Services in the local Church of Ireland and Presbyterian Churches.
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SECURING THE FURURE OF INTEGRATED EDUCATION ON THE CAUSEWAY COAST...
In 2016, the Minister for Education announced that Mill Strand Integrated School has been permitted to proceed to the planning stage for a New Build school under 'Fresh Start Agreement Funding'. A new extensive, 5 acre site has been secured on the Ballywillan Road, Portrush to enable the school to meet the growing demand for integrated education and to provide the space necessary to develop the state of the art educational facilities our pupils deserve. The new school is due for completion in the Spring of 2024.
