About CASE
CASE aims to build a culture of good relations amongst children and young people in a school based setting. Delivery is through the provision of direct, sustained, curricular-based contact between children and teachers from all backgrounds.
Through working in partnership, the participating schools will promote community cohesion, enhance educational outcomes for all pupils and provide shared professional development. CASE is open to all schools in the six Border Counties of Ireland and schools in Northern Ireland which are not currently involved in the DSC Signature Project for Shared Education.
This project is supported by the European Union's PEACE Programme, managed by the Special EU Programme Body.
Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) programme
This consists of a suite of short courses covering a range of strategic areas to help develop collaborative working practices and support school improvement.
The provision of a Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) programme for school-based staff is a specific element of the CASE Project. Its aim is to provide teachers and school leaders with a clear learning framework that will enhance the skills, capacity and confidence needed to embed effective practice in Shared Education.
During 2019/20 up to 8 different CASE modules will be delivered each term; all suitable for audiences comprising NI teachers and ROI teachers.
The modules will take place over a 3 day period, 2 days back-to-back with a follow-up day approximately 4 -6 weeks later. As part of each module teachers will jointly undertake a short partnership-based learning exercise designed to enhance collaborative working and encourage professional dialogue. Each module is designed to reflect a blend of research-based theory and practical classroom content.
All teachers in schools involved in the CASE Project are eligible to participate in the TPL programme.
Registration for all courses will be released in early September and further details are available from school principals and CASE Link teachers.
News from around the partnerships
Ashgrove PS and St Michael’s PS – Shared Education in action – a report by St Michael’s PS
It's not every day that you get to travel back in time to discover life in 1884 Ireland but that's exactly what Ashgrove PS and St Michael's PS did at Hillsborough Castle as part of their Shared Education Project last December.
Shared Education Benefitting both Pupils and Teachers
Hardy Memorial PS and St Patrick's PS Armagh have been sharing classes for almost two years. Working together to plan and teach together, they've developed excellent relationships providing an extraordinary model for the pupils.
The children made friends in face to face shared classes and sustained these relationships through online collaboration using G-suite.
For one of the Year groups, they used this blended approach to learning, exploring the World War 2 topic together. They also researched and found out more about cultural dances and learnt dances together during shared PE classes.
They also discussed this issues around online bullying during shared PDMU classes, linking some of the activities to Anti-bullying week.
During a recent On-Line collaboration TPL module, two teachers, Julie McClughan from Hardy Memorial PS, Richhill and Ashlene Smith, St Patrick's PS Armagh shared their learning from the previous online TPL module they attended and the work they did together as a result of the course.
They highlighted both the reconciliation and educational benefits for teachers and children involved, including: enhanced friendships and teamwork skills; learning new ICT skills; increase in confidence of both teachers and children; worthwhile activities done together; (not a ‘bolt on’) the ease of communication with and to each other and no additional costs incurred.
They also referenced the links to DE’s Learning Leaders Strategy and the clear links they made to the UICT tasks. The coordinating teachers plan to disseminate and transfer their learning and experiences to other staff members from both schools during shared staff training in May.
