The Ireland Funds - Your Money at Work : Oakwood

Photos:
1. Oakwood students stand in front of the demolition work.

2. The old school

3. the "concrete wasteland"

Oakwood Integrated Primary School

Construction workers moved into the school during the summer months and completely removed the concrete wasteland that previously existed. This “rolling hill” was planted with grass and now offers an altogether different vista. When all building work has been completed at Oakwood (and the grassland has had an opportunity to take hold) this green space will be converted into numerous uses to enhance the children’s outdoor play opportunities.

• See all photos of the rebuilding >

More information...

Northern Ireland statistics >
Lir Integrated Primary School >
Hazelwood Integrated School >
Integrated Education Fund >

The preschool students moved into the primary school for the duration of the building works. They have exclusive use of the school’s assembly hall for this period. Loretta Joyce, Manager of the school, “cannot wait to move back into the new facility. It will offer great opportunities to enhance the quality of service offered and allow the School to extend its services to meet parental demand. Roll on next year!”

Pre-school places for September 2007 were not offered until January 2007 but already the demand exceeds the number of places available. The new facility will better enable Oakwood to cater for these needs and will greatly improve the school’s chances of extending pre-school provision to cover afternoons. Also, many of the other non-integrated schools in the area offer full-time nursery school provision, putting this well established integrated school at a distinct disadvantage. It is planned that with the new facility Oakwood will be able to offer nursery places to younger children —a waiting list currently exists to support the demand for this service.

The current after-school activities are very well used by the pupils and the improved facility will enable the school to offer after school care to a greater number of children—another waiting list exists for this service!—and will allow the centre to offer all day care on days when the school is closed. Pre-School and After School facilities are essential for Oakwood’s continued development.

Conclusion

The first American Ireland Fund Integrated Preschool opened in early 2007. This will be a milestone which will bring enormous benefit to the local community, but also make a major contribution to reconciliation in Northern Ireland which is the long term goal.

Background

Oakwood Integrated Primary School was opened in September 1996 by a group of parents who came together from all sides of the religious divide. They had the unifying aim of seeing their children educated together in an environment which values all traditions. The school has continued to thrive and grow opening a newly built school in September 2000. The school is situated in the outskirts of South West Belfast near a number of interface areas where sectarian tensions can run very high. It draws pupils from a wide catchment area including a number of areas that are deeply polarised e.g. Lisburn and Seymour Hill are predominantly Protestant areas while Poleglass and Twinbrook are almost exclusively Catholic.

The school was built on the site of an old factory and for many years has had to operate alongside an unsightly and dangerous concrete wasteland that the school has been unable to use for anything other than overflow car parking. This imposing concrete space has also seriously curtailed playground facilities for the children attending the school.

Currently, there are 207 children attending the primary school.

The School opened its pre-school facility in 2001 and since then, has been situated at the opposite end of the school grounds from the primary school. This children’s centre currently caters for between 80-90 children a week with 24 children attending the pre-school facility and more than 55 children attending the after-school service.

The Children’s centre currently operates in sub-standard conditions with facilities seriously restricted by the lack of space available. At present there is a playgroup functioning in a dilapidated mobile building which is not considered ‘fit for purpose’ and does not meet adequate standards for disability (both children and parents), toileting and no quiet area for the children.

In September 2006, 14 children had to be turned away from the pre-school facility. There is also a significant waiting list for children who wish to attend the after-school service.

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Updated photos
With help from The Ireland Funds, Oakwood Integrated Primary School has moved into a brand new school

Photos:
1. Oakwood students play in front of the new school.

2. A big "Thank You" for your support!