Shared Education

Shared Education in St. Dominic’s takes place across four main projects this year, as well as wider collaboration with Friends’ School Lisburn and partner schools across Ireland.

History

This project aims to explore a ‘shared’ history of the events of 1916 that have had an impact on the island of Ireland. It begins by studying the Irish experience of WWI and the Battle of the Somme. It then compares that to the experience of the Easter Rising. Pupils use a range of different resources created by both partner schools and also travel to the Corrymeela Community for an overnight residential and the Somme Heritage Centre for an educational visit. They will end the project with a summary presentation on the main events of 1916 and how they can be seen in a shared way.

Politics in Action 

This programme is facilitated by members of staff from both schools and the Politics in Action (PIA) group. It involves joint sessions with Year 13 pupils from both schools who undertake an investigative approach to a topic of their choosing. In the last few years they have looked at Brexit, Mental Health in NI and RSE in schools. Pupils meet with politicians and other key stakeholders to research their topic and then present their findings at Stormont or Queen’s University Belfast to MLAs and other local representatives. 

Habitat for Humanity

A group of twenty Year 13 pupils team up to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity, providing the cost of a home for a family in the developing world. The three-day programme allows students to explore issues of poverty, social justice and conflict and see the role they can play in regenerating communities across the globe.

Cooperation Ireland SEPI programme

The Cooperation Ireland SEPI programme is designed to unite schools across Northern Ireland, the border counties, and beyond. Shared Education for Positive Innovation fosters collaboration, innovation, and community cohesion by facilitating shared educational experiences. The goal is to strengthen ties between communities, promoting a deeper understanding and mutual respect by focusing on team building and problem solving with a particular focus on climate action. Students compete to design a sustainable climate solution, working with businesses to refine and enhance their ideas.