Leaney installs The Life Channel Schools television

In partnership with Belfast Education & Library Board (BELB), The Life Channel's in-school network delivers high quality programming,

supporting key government initiatives such as the Department of Education, Northern Ireland's Every School a Good School.

The network operates as a communications platform between each school and its students, whilst other partners including the Irish Football Association, Police Service of Northern Ireland and Community Safety Partnerships can add content designed to highlight community initiatives.

The Life Channel's messages enable schools to tackle key issues such as child obesity, staying healthy and being safe.

Joe McConaghie, Leaney Primary School's Principal, said: "The Life Channel is a wonderfully exciting resource, which is beneficial in the information it brings to the school community in general; the magic it brings to the children is immeasurable. An essential resource for every school, the network compliments every aspect of school life.

"The Life Channel has proven to be so beneficial and successful in our school, that we have already installed an additional screen, with a third one to follow. The parents and the children really love The Life Channel."

Launched in 2007, The Life Channel Schools network is currently broadcast to over 1500 educational institutions across the UK and Ireland. Strategically placed screens can be found in school reception areas, canteens and halls, as well as external areas such as playgrounds, giving

schools, colleges and universities the unique opportunity to communicate key messages directly to students, teachers and parents.

A study conducted in June 2009 by independent research consultancy Return on Investment (ROI) Team, found that 47 per cent of pupils who watched The Life Channel showed an improved knowledge of health and well-being issues and 25 per cent changed behaviour in a positive way.

90 per cent of pupils believe the network benefits their school.

Chairperson of the Board of Governors, Trudy Pollock, said: "The Life Channel provides parents and pupils with valuable information on current issues. It has provided Leaney Primary School with an excellent platform for pupils to share and demonstrate their various talents within their own school community, with other schools, and with the community as a whole."

The Life Channel's Head of Business for Northern Ireland, Alan Mains, welcomes Leaney Primary School onboard and said he is 'delighted' about the network's new partnership with the school.

Martin Beattie, The Life Channel's NI Regional Schools Co-ordinator, said: "Joe McConaghie and Trudy Pollock have embraced the concept of The Life Channel Schools network in NI, in a way that embodies their forward thinking for the health and well being of the children at Leaney Primary School in Ballymoney.

"They have enhanced their school ethos with transparent messaging for parents, family friends, and visitors, along with pupil's participation on screen through the interaction with our core community values and improvements to in-school communication. I am pleased to have met Joe

and Trudy in what I feel is a great partnership between ourselves, the staff, parents and the children at Leaney Primary School."

The Life Channel is currently in 40 schools in Northern Ireland and plans to roll out the network across all schools in the country over the next two years.