Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 23 February 2023

Write a comment

Fourteen school children from Ballyholland Primary School Student Council visited Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage at Council Offices in Monaghan Row on Monday 20 February.

The pupils from Primary 4 to Primary 7, expressed an interest in visiting the Council Chamber as they wanted to learn more about the Chairperson and his role and responsibilities within the Council.

During the visit students took the opportunity to take part in a lively question and answer session with the Chairperson, sharing their ideas on the projects they have been involved in with the School Council, discussing the role they played in developing an outdoor classroom.

Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage thanked the children for coming along and taking such an interest in the Council saying, “I was delighted to welcome the students from Ballyholland Primary School. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to gain knowledge and understand the civic role the Chairperson and Council plays within the district.”

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 27 February 2023

Write a comment

Two students from the SRC Newry campus have been named as UK squad members in the WorldSkills competition which will be held in France in 2024. Only three people are in their UK Chemical Laboratory Technician team but only one of them will go on to compete at WorldSkills. 

Anastasiya Kovtun and Wiktoria Kurkowska from Portadown are studying the Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) Foundation Degree in Applied Industrial Science at Newry.  A two year programme where students study one day a week alongside undertaking paid employment in a related industry the remaining four days.

Over the next year and a half, Anastasiya and Wiktoria will attend four to five weekend bootcamps honing their skills with a UK WorldSkills chemical specialist training manager from the University of Manchester. Additionally, online learning labs to practice the different skills required will need to be completed.

Southern Regional College has been successful in the WorldSkills series having been recognised as the top performing further education college in the UK in 2022. With 1,500 competitors competing in 60 categories, WorldSkills is the pinnacle event in apprenticeship training and standards and will take place in Lyon in September 2024.  WorldSkills has often been dubbed the ‘Skills Olympics’ as competitors in employment and vocational training come together across the globe seeking gold.

Brian Doran, Principal & CEO of Southern Regional College congratulated both students and added "I want to recognise the commitment of our staff who put great effort into supporting and mentoring competitors through the local, regional and national competitions.  I wish both students every success on their journey towards the WorldSkills competition to be held in Lyon next year”. 

Both Anastasiya and Wiktoria were initially encouraged to enter the WorldSkills series of competitions by the College’s Specialist Lecturer in Science, Deirdre Murray.  Having undertaken intercampus, regional and national competitions, the girls are delighted to have been named as members of the UK Squad.  The road to Lyon may be 18 months away but there is still plenty of preparation to be done in advance. 

To get to this stage both Anastasiya and Wiktoria have been supported by College staff and their employer Almac.  Both organisations have taken the girls through numerous training simulations and been at their sides at competitions. 

Anastasiya and Wiktoria are focused on the end goal.  They know with perseverance and a lot of hard work they will achieve success.  Speaking on the HLA route, both girls maintain the work/study route requires a lot of dedication, but there are plenty of people in Almac and the College to lean back on for support, including those who have previously taken the course. 

Highlighting a benefit of the HLA foundation degree, Anastasiya and Wiktoria recognise they are already ahead of the game, compared to university counterparts.  Both girls will complete their course with several years of industry experience added to C.V.s and no student debt, as course fees are fully funded by the Department of the Economy. 

Speaking on the route so far, Anastasiya commented: “It has been an amazing journey so far and I am excited to gain more knowledge and explore available opportunities.”

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 06 March 2023

Write a comment

Construction work has started at Loughbrickland on the new 620 pupil New-Bridge Integrated College which will replace the original school founded in 1995. The school caters for pupils from a wide area including Newry and Banbridge.

Education Permanent Secretary Dr Mark Browne has cut the first sod to officially mark the beginning of the £27million project. Funding came from the Fresh Start Programme and the school is due to be completed by the summer of 2025.

Speaking at the event, Dr Browne said: “Today is an important development at New-Bridge Integrated College, as work officially gets underway on new school accommodation.

“When completed, young people will have the opportunity to grow and learn in a modern, fit-for-purpose facility and this new building will create a better environment for all to flourish.

“The fantastic new facilities will also mean our teachers can get on with what they do best and inspire the next generation.”

The scheme was first announced as a project to receive funding from the Fresh Start Programme in March 2016.

Dr Browne concluded: “Schools are the hub of any community, and this investment will have a major impact on the wider local area by promoting good relations and creating positive outcomes for many years to come.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in this project for their hard work and commitment in getting it to this stage.”

Principal of New-Bridge Integrated College Anne Anderson said: “This new build signifies another chapter in our school’s history and an important development for Integrated education in Northern Ireland.

“The need for a new school for New-Bridge has been top of the agenda for the school for many years. Finally, this thriving school will get the state-of-the-art new buildings deserved by our dedicated pupils and staff and the entire community will benefit immensely from this new, modern, energy efficient school building.”

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 06 March 2023

Write a comment

Southern Regional College has signed up to an initiative allied to the college and university sector, which seeks to advance the role education has in delivering solutions to the biggest problems faced by the world.

College Chief Executive Brian Doran signed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Accord thus making a commitment to share learnings made with other institutions, both nationally and internationally. The College will report annually on progress made towards achieving goals, ensuring the College remains transparent in efforts to evoke real change.  Reports will be shared annually with the UN’s High Level Political Forum, ensuring supervision at the top level. 

The Principal commented “The Southern Regional College has signed the SDG Accord to confirm its commitment to being a sustainable college. We are already undertaking some excellent work in this area and signing the SDGs Accord is a logical step in ensuring that we contribute to the Further Education sector’s responsibility for achieving these goals. We hope to spread awareness and convey the importance of the UN SDGs both within the college, the FE sector and to the wider community.”

In signing up to become part of this initiative, Southern Regional College is also demonstrating its commitment to achieving one of the key pillars in the Department for the Economy’s 10 X Skills Strategy. 

The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of seventeen goals covering areas from climate and our planet; poverty and inequality; justice and human rights, to gender equality.  These goals form the centre of United Nation’s 2030 Agenda.  This agenda requires all UN Member States to play their part in finding solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges. 

We each have a role to play in effecting change, and the College strives to encourage all staff and students to take personal responsibility in changing the world around us. Real change only seems impossible until it has occurred! 

The College is the latest signatory of a global movement involving over 300 institutions, with hopefully many more to come.

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 14 March 2023

Write a comment

St Paul's High School in Bessbrook is one of several local schools taking part in a Sport for Good Schools Programme, a dedicated mental health athlete mentorship programme delivered by Lidl Northern Ireland as part of the retailer’s established ‘Sport for Good’ campaign which aims to tackle youth mental health head on.  St Mary’s High School, Newry is also taking part.

The programme, developed in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, first launched in 2021 and has since supported more than 5,200 secondary school pupils across Northern Ireland. Survey feedback from last year’s programme revealed that 83% of participants felt the programme boosted their overall confidence and 100% of teachers committed to changing the mental health support programmes in their schools as a result.

Sporting heroes from across Northern Ireland have been specially trained by Youth Sport Trust to deliver workshops that help students to proactively manage their mental health, as they progress into adulthood, through the vehicle of sport and physical activity. The mentors provide students with the tools and encouragement they need to support themselves and their peers in school, at home and in their wider communities.

Students at St. Paul’s High School, Bessbrook received their first workshop this week in the dedicated series of mental health mentorship workshops, delivered by Olympian and men’s field hockey international Eugene Magee.

Hailing from Ballela in Co Down, Eugene made his debut representing Ireland in 2005 and retired from an astounding career international hockey with 295 caps – earning him the title of Irish Hockey’s most capped men’s player. Now, Eugene is passing on his wealth of knowledge and experience to pupils across the county as part of Lidl Northern Ireland’s flagship Community Works initiative, Sport for Good.

Speaking on the initiative Jarlath Burns, Principal of St. Paul’s High School, Bessbrook said “Sport is a significant part of our school identity here at St. Paul’s and we’re very lucky that our pupils are always keen to get involved – either by playing or by supporting the teams. For those who aren’t athletic, this programme has provided a different perspective in showing pupils that you don’t have to be good at traditional sports to get active – you can always go for a walk, run or swim to avail of the benefits that sport participation can have on your physical and mental health. 

“The Sport for Good Mental Health Athlete Mentorship workshops have done a fantastic job in breaking down the stigmas associated with mental health and have provided our students with invaluable life tools to manage challenges they may face as they grow and develop and shown them how sport can play a big role in that.

“Led by some of the region’s top sporting heroes, we’ve been really impressed at the calibre of mentors. It was a delight to see our pupils really engage with Eugene, who has been a true inspiration to them all. 

“On behalf of the entire school community, we would like to express our thanks to the parents and local Lidl shoppers who voted for St. Paul’s High School. I would also like to thank Lidl Northern Ireland and Youth Sport Trust for investing in our community and to their mentor Eugene for delivering this vital programme to help support our pupils with skills for life.”

Commenting on the programme international hockey player, Eugene Magee said “When I was a pupil, my passion for sport and being part of a team really helped me through a lot of the challenges that many students face. Whether I was dealing with the pressure of exams or issues in my personal life, sport was always an escape for me.

“Lidl Northern Ireland’s Sport for Good initiative has been a very exciting opportunity for me, especially now that I’ve retired from hockey as it gives me the chance to get back out into the community to show young adults that there is more to sport than the physical benefits.

From working as part of a team, gaining confidence in your abilities and building resilience when things don’t go to plan on game day, these are vital skills that will transfer to their everyday lives.”

Established in 2019, Lidl Northern Ireland’s Sport for Good initiative has supported more than 100 schools and sports clubs, providing over £320,000 in funding to encourage more young people into sport. 

Earlier this year, the retailer announced 25 winning schools - hailing from every county across the region – who were selected for the Mental Health Athlete Mentorship programme following a call out for competition entries in October last year and nominated by local shoppers. Each winning school also received £1,000 worth of brand-new sports equipment.

The sessions are being led by a stellar line up of leading local athletes including four-time Paralympic athletics champion Michael McKillop, Olympic steeplechase athlete Kerry O’Flaherty, and Olympic hockey heroes Shirley McCay and Eugene Magee.

For more information, please visit lidl-ni.co.uk

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 18 March 2023

Write a comment

Pupils from Abbey Grammar School in Newry are just some of the local young artists who submitted entries to this year’s Texaco Children’s Art Competition.

All entrants are currently having their works evaluated as the judging process gets underway. Winners in the seven age categories, including one exclusively for artworks by young artists with special needs, will be announced in mid-April.

Currently in its 69th year, the Texaco Children’s Art Competition is the longest-running art sponsorship in Ireland. First held in 1955, it is hosted by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited – the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand.

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 20 March 2023

Write a comment

The SRC campus at Greenbank in Newry played host to students across all of the Southern Regional College campuses for the annual SkillBuild competition in the faculty area of Building, Technology and Engineering (BUTE).  Students pitted themselves against classmates and students from other campuses to attain a placing. Students competing in the areas of electrical and plumbing were in with a chance to win prizes, sponsored by the Northern Ireland based online retailer, Tool Monster. A great addition to any young apprentice’s toolkit!

Overseeing the event were Rachel McKeeman, Director of Industry Training and Support and Gayle Beckett, Project Manager from Construction Industry Training Board, who were impressed by the apprentices’ focus to the task.

Success at the annual SkillBuild competition is the first stage for students to compete at the WorldSkills series.  A series of competitions where students demonstrate their technical and employability skills.  Taking part in these competitions not only raises the standards of student output through competition based training, but success can result in increased employability prospects.  Within recent years, Southern Regional College has enjoyed success within the WorldSkills series, having been crowned ‘Best in UK’ in the 2022 UK WorldSkills competition.

Understandably, the College is keen for students to continue their educational and professional development.  Successful students from the SkillBuild competition will go forward to compete at regional heats.  This involves competing against students from other further education colleges before progressing onto UK heats. 

Last month, two SRC students currently undertaking the Level 2 Diploma Traineeship in Vehicle Body Paint Repair Oisin McKerr from Lurgan and Ben Robertson from Portadown took part in the NI regional competition for Automotive Refinishing in Mallusk.  

At the event, Oisin and Ben undertook various tasks from paint colour matching, plastic panel repairs, paint rectification, along with metal panel preparation and painting.  Competition was fierce with both students performing well under pressure. Oisin obtained the coveted 1st place and Ben joint 3rd.  Oisin has gained automatic qualification towards the last 16 in the UK World Skills heats.  Ben has the opportunity to qualify for the last 16 through completing an online assessment. 

The Newry SkillBuild event covered students undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships in areas from bricklaying, cabinet making, carpentry, electrical, joinery, painting & decorating, plastering, plumbing to wall & floor tiling.  Students will now have the opportunity to compete against peers across Northern Ireland in their chosen profession. 

The event also saw students within the Schools Partnership Programme (SPP) compete in areas of brickwork, joinery, wall & floor tiling, painting & decorating, plumbing pipework, electrical, engineering and motor vehicles 

The SPP enables secondary school students in the 14-16 age group to attend the College for Occupational Studies one day a week over a two-year timeframe.  These students obtain a board and balanced curriculum and achieve qualifications to support the local economic workforce.

List of Results

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 30 March 2023

Write a comment

A level 2 floor and wall tiling apprentice at Southern Regional College has been awarded the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ at the Department for the Economy’s annual Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards. The awards celebrate employers, apprentices, and champions from a wide range of industries and occupations.

Conor Braniff, fought off stiff competition from across the sector and apprenticeship training providers. 

Conor, who is employed by Tullycross Tiling, is so dedicated to his training that he travels over 80 miles to college each week and his tutors have commented that “his commitment and attendance is outstanding”. His sheer dedication to his course, learning and employment has proved that the skills he is learning and putting into practice are beyond those of others his age. On top of his training and employment, he is also in training to compete in the tiling category of UK Skillbuild final. 

Speaking at a ceremony hosted by speaker and broadcaster David Meade in the Belfast Harbour Commissioner’s office, Mike Brennan, Permanent Secretary at the Department for the Economy, said: “The Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards are an opportunity to appreciate those who have made a significant investment in vocational education. The awards ceremony allows us to celebrate the commitment and the immense capability of our apprentices, their employers and the training providers who support them.”

Brian Doran, Principal & Chief Executive of Southern Regional College commented: “This is a fantastic achievement for Conor who has made a big impact already so early on in his career.  It is particularly inspiring that alongside his apprenticeship he is dedicating time to additional training to allow him to compete at a national level in his subject”. 

“Being awarded Apprentice of the Year, Conor has demonstrated skills and knowledge in his work that go far beyond that expected. A huge vote of thanks also goes to Conor’s lecturing team at SRC, who have nurtured his talent and supported him during his time at college. A significant achievement for all”. 

More information on the Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards 2023 can be found on the Department’s website at www.economy-ni.gov.uk

Columba O'Hare

Category: Education

Published: 01 April 2023

Write a comment

Higher education options at local further education colleges are now wider than ever before and provide an excellent route to promising careers and further study, according to the Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College. 

Brian Doran was speaking to over 100 guests at an event in Southern Regional College Banbridge Campus as part of a wider campaign launched by the Department for the Economy this month to raise awareness of Level 4 and 5 qualifications at Northern Ireland’s six colleges. 

More than 9,500 learners are enrolled on higher education courses at local colleges, a number that is growing.

Courses include Foundation Degrees, Higher National Diplomas, Degrees in collaboration with Universities and Higher Level Apprenticeships giving students the opportunity to combine learning with hands-on experience and more crucially, access to employers. 

Speaking at the event Brian Doran, Chief Executive and Principal of Southern Regional College said “The Further Education Colleges across Northern Ireland offer an array of excellent higher education courses in a range of subjects that support industry need, bolster regional economic development and kick start thousands of careers.” 

“All six colleges offer courses from Higher National Certificates right through to bachelor’s degrees and postgraduate qualifications. The benefits of studying at a local college are clear. We offer highly accessible locations for people who need or want to be closer to home when studying, lower fees, smaller class sizes and enhanced tutor support. The college model supports diversity and that is something we are hugely proud of.”

“We also continue to grow our links with local employers and design our courses in direct response to their needs, meaning that each of the six Colleges are an important player in supporting local economic development and contributing to a balanced economy right across Northern Ireland.”