Ulster-Scots Flagship Award Presented to...

28 November 2013

The Ulster-Scots Agency presented the first school in the Republic of Ireland with its new Flagship Award. Drumcorrin National School was presented with its Flagship Award in recognition of the schools application of Ulster-Scots in their teaching. Drumcorrin National is only one of four schools throughout Ulster who will receive the Agency’s Flagship School award in 2013.

The Flagship Programme is a cultural and educational scheme, devised and managed by the Ulster-Scots Agency in partnership with primary schools in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.  The purpose of the programme is to support primary schools in the development of high quality educational and curricular opportunities for children and young people in order to learn more about the Ulster-Scots heritage and culture.  Currently there are over 20 schools working towards their Flagship status throughout 2014 with many more schools having registered their interest in the next tranche.

Jim Millar, Director of Education and Language (Ulster-Scots Agency) presented the Flagship Award to Principal Linda Kingston at Drumcorrin National during a special assembly to mark their achievement.  Jim ‘congratulated the school on their sterling work, applauding the teachers in particular for the inclusion of Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture within their school, all of which are a valuable part of our shared cultural heritage.’

Mrs Kingston gave an overview of the numerous Ulster-Scots activities that they had already undertook and concluding by expressing her ‘delight to receive the award as recognition of all the hard work that underpinned teaching and learning about Ulster-Scots within her school,’ saying that she was ‘very appreciative of her schools involvement with the various educational programmes ran by the Ulster-Scots Agency and looked forward to increasing commitment from the Agency in the future.’

A number of parents and members of the school Board of Governors were in attendance to congratulate Drumcorrin on their award; Mrs Kingston thanked them for their support before leading all of the school children in the recitation of Ulster-Scots poetry.

If you would like to discuss the Ulster-Scots Flagship Schools Programme with a member of staff at the Ulster-Scots Agency, contact Education Officer Jane Wallace on (028) 9023 1113 or email: education@ulsterscotsagency.org.uk.