Town well represented on new body for controlled schools

Portadown is well represented on the new body set up to represent schools within the Controlled sector in Northern Ireland.

Two local school principals have been appointed to the board along with Ulster Unionist Councillor Kenneth Twyble,

The local principals are Mr Hugh McCarthy, who retired this month as principal at Killicomaine Junior High and Mrs Heather Murray, principal of Millington Primary School.

The Controlled Schools’ Support Council is a new advocacy body for schools in the controlled education sector.

CSSC will work on behalf of schools and the wider controlled education sector to enhance the quality of education provision, focusing on five key areas, advocacy, ethos, governance, raising standards and area planning.

It is the first time Northern Ireland has had such a body for the controlled sector.

It is the largest education sector, comprising 48 per cent of all schools.

Mrs Murray, who had previously served on the interim board of CSSC, is an experienced educator.

She has taught in both the primary and nursery sectors, and led in a variety of settings from, small rural to large urban schools.

On her appointment she said, “I am delighted to be a member of the board, to help ensure that the ethos and work of controlled schools is recognised on an equal basis with all the other sectors.”