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Integration

It's a 'yes' on integration for Downshire with 77% of parental votes in favour of this change!

We will be transforming to an integrated school in September 2025.

Everyone Valued, Everyone Encouraged, Everyone Achieving, Everyone Together.

“We moved to Hillsborough in 2019 from Indonesia and our twins entered P3 for their first experience of school taught in English. The teachers and all the staff were all so welcoming and they settled in quickly and made so many new friends. Now that they’re close to finishing their five years at Downshire Primary we are already thinking about all the wonderful experiences they’ve had at the school where they’ve both really thrived. Going forwards I hope Downshire Primary can welcome a new era of integrated education and embrace the change in status that will truly represent the school’s commitment to providing a modern, quality education for all the pupils.” Peter - Parent

“When Integration was first muted at the Board of Governors, I must say I was hesitant and uncertain. Although I firmly believe that all children should be educated together, I thought Integration meant that the Department would insist we had an immovable group of percentages which may curtail local children obtaining a place. However, as I listened to several people who had experience delivering Integration and I also read all the documents from the Department I discovered my fear was unfounded when it was explained the percentages were in line with the demographics of the area.

That being the case I would recommend that we vote to go with Integration which will give future generations of children in the village the opportunity of being educated alongside their neighbours, to work together, play together and make for a much more enriched community.

If given a positive vote, the Board of Governors are committed to make Downshire Primary School the very top Integrated Primary School in the country where all pupils will have the best education and will be treated equally, fairly and with respect.”

Letty Lucas - Governor and Past Teacher of Downshire Primary School

“I was delighted to see that Downshire Primary School is open to the idea of Integration. All children, regardless of their religion, culture or socio-economic status, have the right to equitable education, not just equality in education. Unfortunately, unless they have had these first-hand experiences, people can be unintentionally naïve about the problems that exist. I have seen the benefits of Integration first-hand and it will enhance all our children’s education, without a doubt. I sincerely hope it happens in every school, for the sake of all our children.”

Caroline - Parent

“At DPS the children are at the heart of all that we aim to do as we strive to value, encourage and help our pupils achieve. I entered the profession because I love to teach children and wanted to make a difference in helping them to grow and develop into the adults of tomorrow. I believe that this is achievable through an integrated education whereby we are consciously helping our children to develop an understanding, tolerance and respect of others, their beliefs and culture as well as exploring their own identity. This can only impact upon our community and society in a positive way as we make a conscious effort to celebrate differences, with Christianity remaining at the heart of our school.” Lisa Scott - Teacher

“For our family, we have always wanted our two children to attend an integrated school. To have our local school Downshire officially as an Integrated school would show that we as a school community are confident in sharing and celebrating each other's cultures.” Yvonne - Parent

“The future of this country lies in the hands of our children. Therefore, it is our responsibility to ensure that children are educated in an environment where all cultural backgrounds and faith traditions are cherished and nurtured. For too long our communities have been segregated, and this in turn has led to ignorance, misunderstanding and suspicion of ‘the other side’. Integrated education is surely one more step on the road towards to more tolerant and peaceful society.” Rev Jason Kernohan – Governor

“Educating children together from different faiths and background, enables them to learn from each other and to deepen their understanding of other cultures and traditions. By becoming Integrated, we are fostering mutual respect and reinforcing the message that every child is equally valued and welcome in our school.” Heather Peters - Teacher

“As neither my husband or I came from Hillsborough we felt very strongly that our children should go to the local village school so that they would have the opportunity to form strong and long lasting bonds with the local community and be able to call Hillsborough “home”. The compromise that we had to make was knowing that the school would not meet all their needs, particularly in the recognition and embracing of their faith. Downshire PS has nevertheless been a welcoming environment in which my children have thrived. As such, to many people it feels as though it is already an integrated school and question the need for the formality of the integrated process. However, whilst the school has striven to be as inclusive as possible, to us a family “in the minority” much more is possible to make all the children who consider Hillsborough their home to feel fully seen, included and respected. Integration is key to achieving this. All our children will benefit from this opportunity to open their hearts and minds to diversity and fuller inclusiveness.” Eimer - Parent

“In my final year at Stranmillis I chose to specialise in Integrated Education. During this time, I completed my teaching in Lough View Integrated Primary where I saw integration successfully working in an established educational environment. The day-to-day running of the school was the same as any other primary school.

I have also seen integration working on a wider scale when I taught in London. The school, Barrow Hill Junior celebrated the wide diversity of religion within the local community. The children learnt about different religious festivals, beliefs and traditions through learning together and were knowledgeable and sensitive to one another's faith. This was truly poignant when we returned to school following the bombings on 7^th July 2005: there were no issues between the children as their shared education had ensured that they could see that their peers were not to blame for the attacks”.

Sarah Leonard - Teacher

“I prayerfully endorse the intended transformation of Downshire Primary School and Nursery Unit to attain Controlled Integrated Status. Its existing Christian ethos, long valued, will continue to be maintained, and will be enhanced by a more intentional way of demonstrating mutual knowledge of and respect for the increasing diversity of the populace in our local community.”

Rev Dr Allen Sleith, Minister, Hillsborough Presbyterian Church

“As a proud family of mixed identity, our children are lucky to be able to embrace all traditions in Northern Ireland without having to chose a side. Being educated in an Integrated school will give them the opportunity to further explore their curiosity for all cultures and see each child for the person they are, rather than the background they come from.” Jennifer - Parent

“As a parent and Board of Governor I will be voting ‘yes’ to integrate Downshire Primary School.

Over the last 15 months, I have carefully considered and sought to understand integration and what it would mean for the children, parents, teachers and the wider community.

It was really important to the Board of Governors that the school remains a community school and as such we would maintain the current admissions criteria; our school demographics are changing with 35% stating they are neither catholic or protestant.

By being integrated we would continue to follow the NI Curriculum, including the core NI RE curriculum.

I’ve had comments about ‘why change, it’s already integrated with a small ‘I’?' While the school has striven to recognise the changing demography of its pupils and has made significant efforts to be as inclusive to all as is possible, it isn’t an integrated school in the full sense, so that the entire community can be thoughtfully recognised, included and respected.

I passionately believe that by being integrated we would be even more intentional about welcoming children from all background and celebrating all our traditions. It gives our children an opportunity to learn with young people from different religious and cultural backgrounds, more parents on the Board of Governors, and for society as a whole it gives an entire generation an opportunity to learn and celebrate difference, inclusivity and diversity. Our children will benefit from different perspectives and it will deepen their understanding of issues, directly benefitting their learning while building skills such as collaboration, all important qualities to growing up to be balanced adults.

Remember to post your vote by Wednesday 6th December and all parents/ carers who have children at the school are able to vote.

There’s a FAQ and lots of information about integration on the school app, though happy to chat about any questions people may have.”

Allison Cosgrove, Parent and EA Representative on the Board of Governors

“We chose Downshire Primary School over a local Catholic maintained school because of its ethos – EVERYONE Valued, EVERYONE Encouraged, EVERYONE Achieving.

This is the environment we wanted for our children. Though DPS offers inclusivity – it is not Integrated. Becoming Integrated will cement these values and give our children the opportunity to learn and celebrate their friends’ beliefs and religions in the most natural way – together. Religious beliefs have separated us for far too long, making this positive change will bring us together and give our children a future full of understanding, love, tolerance and peace.” Ann - Parent

“For me Integration is an opportunity to continue and develop the practices that are already an important part of the daily classroom. It gives an opportunity for all children to celebrate achievements, to share their knowledge and for us to learn from each other. It gives us an opportunity for wider experiences and discussion on things that are important to us.”

Claire Allison – Teacher

Integration

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