Topics related to education, instruction, training, and learning in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, are the focus of this part of our web guide.
The educational system in Craigavon, a town in County Armagh, is characterized by a blend of traditional and modern approaches.
A significant aspect of its unique system is the Dickson Plan, a two-tier system where pupils attend Junior High Schools during Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14) before transferring to Senior High Schools to complete their compulsory education during Key Stage 4 (ages 14-16). In the Dickson Plan, Junior High Schools are not academically selective, allowing pupils to transfer to either a Grammar school or a non-selective secondary school at age 14. Implemented in the Craigavon area, including Portadown and Tandragee, the Dickson Plan has been in place since 1968 and is supported by most parents. It was designed to provide a more inclusive and less selective education system where pupils are not branded as failures at a young age. Although the plan has been threatened with abolition at the national level, overwhelming parental support has kept it alive in the Craigavon area even after the 2008 education reforms that removed academic selection in the remainder of Northern Ireland.
Craigavon is home to several schools, including Catholic and Controlled institutions, some of which are religiously integrated.
Primary schools in Craigavon include Birches Primary School, Drumgor Primary School, St. Anthony's Primary School, St. Brendan's Primary School, and Tullygally Primary School. Junior High Schools within the town include Clounagh Junior High School, and secondary schools include Brownlow Integrated College and Lismore College. Other educational programmes include Kip McGrath Craigavon, a tutoring centre, and EOTAS, a programme for children unable to attend mainstream schools.
These and any other schools or educational programmes in Craigavon are appropriate resources for this category.
Recommended Resources
Birches is a state-funded Controlled primary school in Craigavon, Northern Ireland. The school occupies a prominent site near the M1, south of Lough Neagh, and six miles from Portadown. Built in 1965, the school can accommodate more than 180 pupils, with seven classrooms and a large assembly and dining hall, which is also used for physical education. Its location, school calendar, classes, parent resources, literacy curriculum, and contact data are published on the site.
https://www.birchesps.com/
Founded as Brownlow High School in 1973, in 1991, it became the first secondary school in Northern Ireland to transition from a state-controlled school to an integrated school, meaning it enrolls Catholic and Protestant pupils. Its location, contact information, school day, calendar of events, curriculum, and extra curricular programmes are set forth. Its house system and mentoring programmes are defined, and its Parent Teacher Association, and Cameron's Garden are highlighted.
https://www.brownlowcollege.co.uk/
Catering to male and female pupils aged 11 to 14, Clounagh Junior High School is a Controlled Junior High School on Brownstown Road, Portadown, Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Generally, its students attend for three years, although those with special needs may stay for an additional two years. After completing their time at Clounagh, pupils typically transfer either to Portadown College or Craigavon Senior High School. It is state-funded and managed by the Education Authority.
https://www.clounagh.com/
CSHS is a non-denominational Christian school that shares facilities with Southern Regional College and whose curriculum is enriched by vocational courses delivered by SRC staff. Located in Portadown, Craigavon, County Armagh, SCHS is a Dickson Plan, Key Stage 4 specialist school for 14-16-year-old pupils who transfer from the junior high schools in Lurgan, Portadown, and Tandragee. It is the only school in Northern Ireland solely catering to Key Stage 4 pupils.
https://www.cshs.org.uk/
Catering to children from nursery age through Primary 7, Drumgor is a Controlled Primary School on Drumgor Road, Brownlow, Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The state-funded school is managed by the Education Authority. Constructed in 1972, the school was named for the townland upon which it was built. It has a library with a dedicated accelerated reading book area, a computer suite for children to develop their ICT skills, and an outdoor play area.
https://www.drumgorprimary.com/
This article, written by Ian Wilson and published in 2007 by the Journal of Craigavon Historical Society, discusses education in Craigavon, Armagh, Northern Ireland. It emphasizes the Dickson Plan, which was developed for the town upon its formation and remains in place despite government opposition due to widespread parental support. The strengths and weaknesses of the programme are discussed in detail, along with specific schools in the greater Craigavon area.
http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/wilsoneducationcraigavon.php
Taking its name from "Education Other Than At School," EOTAS is a programme in Northern Ireland designed to provide educational support for children who cannot attend mainstream schools for various reasons. The programme offers a range of educational provisions, including group teaching, one-on-one tuition, e-learning, and support for social, emotional, behavioral, medical, and other issues. In Craigavon, EOTAS services are provided through various centres, which work with schools and families.
https://eotas.education/
Kip McGrath is a tutoring centre located in Portadown, Craigavon. It specialises in providing tutoring primary and secondary pupils in English and maths. Founded in Australia in 1976, Kip McGrath has grown to over five hundred centres worldwide. The centre tailors its programmes to meet the individual needs of the child, and has an emphasis on one-on-one tutoring sessions, with qualified teachers who have been trained in the centre's bespoke methods and are Access NI checked.
https://www.kipmcgrath.co.uk/craigavon
Portadown Independent Christian School
The Portadown Free Presbyterian Church administers the privately run, fee-paying nursery, primary, and secondary school. Located in Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, the school offers a Bible-oriented curriculum and a Christian ethos, along with a comprehensive educational curriculum based on the Northern Ireland Curriculum. An introduction to the school, its fee structure, funding, and contacts are posted on the website, along with its primary and high school.
https://portadown.independentchristianschool.org/
Located on Tullygally Road, Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, St. Anthony's is a Catholic-maintained school enrolling pupils in nursery school through Primary 7. Its location, office hours, school hours, and contacts are posted on the website, along with a vision statement and introductions to its staff and board of governors. Other resources include admissions schedules, school policies, curriculum, uniform policies, dinner menus, and school clubs.
https://www.stanthonysprimaryschool.co.uk/
St. Brendan's Primary School & Nursery Unit
Opened in 1973, St. Brendan's is in Moyraverty, Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The school offers education from nursery age through primary school, providing a smooth transition for young learners. Associated with St. Brendan's Church, the school enrolls children from other faiths, as well. Its website provides an introduction to the school, including its mission statement, staff, board of governors, uniform policies, prospectus, and other policies.
https://www.stbrendansprimaryschool.com/
Built in 1969, Tullygally is a Controlled Primary School on Meadowbrook Road and Tullygally East Road in Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The school caters to children from nursery age through Primary 7. Tullygally is state-funded and managed by the Education Authority. The school includes a grass playing area, a well-equipped playground for sporting and play activities, and large classrooms. Opening hours and contact details are posted on the website.
http://www.tullygallyps.com/
