Schools celebrate collaboration

Taking in various aspects of school life, the initiative saw nine classes from each school following common units of work with an emphasis on developing literacy, drama and ICT skills.

A Fort Hill spokesman said: “The students have met regularly throughout the year and together have enjoyed a range of educational experiences at venues such as Ulster Museum, Balmoral Show, Tayto Factory and Lisburn Linen Museum.

“In addition, senior school students from both schools teamed up to enhance their awareness of community service and understanding of global issues, with a focus on the theme of homelessness. Earlier in the year, 14 students from each school embarked together upon the trip of a lifetimeto Washington DC to participate in a range of projects, such as working in food kitchens and hostels which provide for the many homeless people in the US capital.

“The experience galvanised their motivation to become more actively involved in their own communities; all have since embarked upon some form of social action to help benefit others.”

The collaboration was part of an initial three-year programme credited with having laid the foundations for learning opportunities in “innovative and exciting contexts” while fostering positive relations between young people from across communities, in a spirit of joint purpose and reconciliation.

“St Colm’s High School and Fort Hill College students look forward to further opportunities to learn and to live together,” the spokesperson said.