£60k boost for Ballymena Learning Community project

The funding has been awarded through the Strategic Development Fund which was established last year by Education Minister, John O’Dowd, and is aimed at helping Area Learning Communities improve young people’s literacy and numeracy particularly those underachieving or from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Ballymena ALC comprises of 10 local post-primary, special schools, and the Further Education college which work together to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum and deliver on the requirements of the Entitlement Framework.

A total of £36,120 was provided to the Ballymena ALC for the 2012/13 financial year and £24,430 for 2013/14.

Mr O’Dowd said: “One of my main aims as Education Minister is to raise educational standards and provide every young person with a much broader and more balanced curriculum from the age of 14.

“Recent statistics show that we have been successful in starting to achieve this with standards continually rising, however more needs to be done.

“That is why I decided to make additional resources available to ALCs to help improve the literacy and numeracy levels of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds who are at risk of underachievement in either English and/or maths at GCSE level.

“This is one of a number of packages aimed at supporting educational improvements and enables schools to share best practice, expertise and resources to better meet the needs of pupils. Supporting the work of ALCs in this way will assist in the drive to raise standards.”

The SDF provides financial support for substitution cover and supports minor costs associated with the development of resources or assessment of pupils.

Mr O’Dowd also noted the the important role the Entitlement Framework will play in putting the needs and aspirations of pupils first.

He added: “Every young person should leave education having had the best opportunity to achieve their full potential.”