Full Service School Network goes live in West Belfast

Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has announced the formal approval of the Full Service School Network (FSCN) centred on Corpus Christi school in West Belfast.

Full Service Schools are designed to support schools to work with voluntary and statutory agencies and neighbouring communities to offer a range of services to pupils, families and the wider community such as adult learning classes, vocational classes and parental and pupil support.

Minister Ruane outlined the significance of the announcement and said: “Since I gave approval in principle to the establishment of the Full Service Community Network just over a year ago, much time and effort has been put in to establish steering and implementation groups to engage with all the major stakeholders including schools, youth and community groups in the area.

“I fully support all the efforts in developing empowerment and capacity building within the community. I envisage that the anticipated outcomes emanating from the action plan that has been developed will help bring about a measurable improvement in the educational attainment, health and well-being of the children and young people of the local community. It will also provide a coherent and integrated approach to reducing the poverty gap and levels of deprivation in the local community and most importantly help children and young people realise their true potential and aspirations in the Whiterock, Ballymurphy and Upper Springfield areas.

“I am confident that the creation of the Full Service Community Network will implement a ‘lifelong pathway’ framework which will track a child and family from birth through early years, nursery, primary, post- primary, further and alternative education through to employment.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Full Service Schools project and the wider Extended Schools programme is a key vehicle for the delivery of the Ten Year Strategy for Children and Young People.

2. At present the Department of Education is piloting the Full Service School through the Girls Model and Boys Model in North Belfast. They are working closely with local primary schools as well as with partnership organisations including: Barnardos; the Ulster Cancer Foundation; Forum Against Substance and Alcohol Abuse (FASA), Action Cancer and local community groups.

3. The Department of Education intends to secure the development of the Full Service Community Network in West Belfast in a way that allows Corpus Christi and other schools in the area to become a focal point for local residents to participate in community life – still supporting pupils but also engaging with families and the community. Alongside conventional school programmes we would expect provision for pre-school activities, health and well-being programmes and a base for other local services (libraries, leisure facilities, health providers etc).

4. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office on 028 9127 9701. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.