St Patrick's Primary School

St.Patrick's Primary School and Nursery Unit

8 Gortahar Road,

Rasharkin,

Ballymena, BT44 8SB

Tel:(028) 29571356

See pictures of the school in the gallery

Principal: Mr. N. McCann

St Patrick's Primary School is a Catholic Maintained co-ed primary school situated on the Gortahar Road next to St. Mary's Church and opposite St. Olcan's Parish Centre. It was built in 1972 to facilitate the amalgamation of the four primary schools – St. Patrick's P.S., Dreen, St. Peter's P.S., Slaght, St. Mary's P.S., Craigs and St. Columba's Primary School in the Plains.

The school has a current enrolment of 198 pupils made up of pupils from the village and the surrounding areas. In addition to the main school a nursery unit was opened in 2002 and offers full time provision to an additional 26 children.

As a Catholic school our principle aim is to establish and foster Christian values in our pupils. To achieve this aim we work in close partnership with our local clergy and parents. Religious Education is part of the school's curriculum but it also pervades the whole life of our school. Children participate in school masses and monthly assemblies; they participate in the liturgy and the sacraments and in other celebrations of our Catholic faith. As part of our Catholic ethos we are also an inclusive school and children from other faiths and backgrounds are always welcome in our school.

In St. Patrick's Primary School and Nursery Unit we pride ourselves on our welcoming ethos and our commitment to provide an environment in which pupils, staff and parents are committed to excellence within a caring and supportive community. All members of the school staff work together to ensure the best possible educational experiences and pastoral care for each of the children entrusted to our care. The school has been awarded the Investors in People bronze standard in recognition of its commitment to its staff and pupils. This recognition is especially notable as less than 3% of recognised organisations have success at this level.

The school is very well resourced and has extensive play and grassed spaces which include an outdoor learning area developed with Big Lottery funding. A strong commitment exists within the school to provide a high quality education for all pupils. A positive pastoral care programme helps to ensure that children and staff feel valued and are happy in the school.

The school was awarded a Grade 1 in its last inspection by the ETI. The inspection report noted that ‘the excellent relationships at all levels are reflected in the mutual respect between the teachers, classroom assistants and the pupils and that the educational provision is very good'.

We have successful local community links which include a strong partnership with Rasharkin Primary School as well as links with local post-primary schools. The school has a strong cultural tradition and music and sport are prominent features of the school year. We have an excellent partnership with St. Mary's G.A.C. All pupils are encouraged to participate in sport and we have achieved much success in tournaments.

We have a number of children from various cultural backgrounds and these include children from Poland, Latvia and the Ukraine. This cultural diversity enriches the life of the school and we are very proud of our inclusive ethos.

The pupils of St Patrick's Primary school are caring, well-behaved, happy and motivated. Staff and parents work in partnership to ensure that our pupils reach their full potential and are confident and ready to live life to the full.

Families new to the area are welcome to visit the school by appointment and to experience what we have to offer. Copies of the school and nursery prospectus are also available from the school office.