Oakgrove Integrated Primary and Nursery School in Derry has become the first school in the North West to receive the prestigious Excellence in Integrated Education Award.
In awarding the accolade, the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) said the Waterside school was an “exceptional” integrated school.
Principal Dr Anne Murray said everyone at the school was “absolutely delighted and proud” to receive the award.
She added: “The school was created and built by parents to allow our children celebrate differences in this city and society as a whole, as they achieve their full potential.”
The school was founded by a cross-community group of parents in 1991 in mobile classrooms, transferring into a new permanent building in 1999 with a purpose built nursery unit.
British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg with Oakgrove principal Dr Anne Murray during a visit to the school.
Since it opened the school has hosted many notable visitors including British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg who was accompanied by Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford.
Last November, the Limavady Road school was presented with the Green Flag by officials from the Eco-Schools programme who said it was as “perfect example” of an eco-school, stating they were “very impressed” by the work and enthusiasm of its pupils.
The Excellence in Integrated Education Award (EIEA) came about as a result of the question ‘”What makes a good integrated school?”
In its report, the NICIE said it was a “a thoroughly welcoming and exceptional” integrated school which had “fully embraced” the core principles of integrated education.
The report added: “The pupils and staff are very open and friendly and demonstrate the welcoming ethos which is central to all aspects of this school.
Oakgrove pupils with their Green Flag.
“Staff are confident and committed and work together to make this the best possible school.
“Governors are justifiably proud of this school and should continue to focus on the key issues of the on-going community division and review their policies to ensure they promote a religious and cultural balance.
“Pupils were able to articulate what belonging to an integrated school means to them in a way which demonstrated how the total experience of being at this school has broadened their outlook and empowered them to positively meet the challenges of living in our still divided society and to meet their full potential. “
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