'Unique' back-to-school return for pupils after safety closure

Going back to school heralded the end of the Christmas holidays for schoolchildren across Northern Ireland.

But for the pupils and staff of one Londonderry primary school, the January return to the classroom has been "very unique" and "particularly exciting".

The children from Nazareth House Primary School were back in class last week, albeit at the nearby St Anne's Primary School, for the first time since their own school closed due to safety concerns.

"It's a massive day for our children. It has been very exciting," Nazareth House Primary School principal Róisín Blackery said of the return to class.

The school closed on 3 December after inspectors raised structural concerns about the 123-year-old building's roof.

That meant a period of pre-Christmas uncertainty for the 200-plus pupils.

A well-being hub was set up in a local youth club for the children, while the school's nativity play and carol service went ahead despite the disruption.

Pupils also enjoyed a Christmas dinner in a Derry hotel, and there was a Christmas bowling alley party and soccer coaching with the Ryan McBride Foundation.

In mid-December Education Minister Paul Givan set out the plans for a site share with St Anne's Primary School that would allow pupils to get back into the classroom after Christmas.

On Thursday morning, excited Nazareth House pupils returned to class, arriving at their own school before being bussed to the nearby St Anne's.

For some pupils, Blackery added, the run-up to Christmas may well have been more exciting than usual.

"Our team pulled together very, very quickly to make provision for our children but obviously, for staff and for families in general, it wasn't what it should have been," Blackery said.

She said the initial feeling of displacement was like nothing she had known previously, adding that it was only because of "the overwhelming wave of support" that the school community kept going.

"Obviously, we were suddenly bereft of our school building, but we used our hall and we used the local youth club, who were extremely supportive," Blackery said.

"We got so much support from our community," she told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.

For Nazareth House pupil Gail, the last month has "been very fun".

When the school first closed, she said, a lot of "people were kind of stressing" and it was "quite a confusing time".

"But then it got easier and it got better. I've had lots of opportunities to meet up with my friends, so it's been very good," she said.

Gail's mum, Terri Lamberton, said getting back to school was "great for the children".

"I think just to have everybody back under one roof is amazing," she said, adding that the last month had been an uncertain time for parents.

"But seeing how strong the community is, and how strong we are as a school community, has been amazing. I'm so proud to be a parent of Nazareth House."

The school's closure, P7 pupil Isla said, was "very upsetting" at the start but said she is happy to be back in a classroom setting.

"It's good to be together again to see your friends," Isla said.

"It's a very big day just to see your friends again, your class and your teacher, and to get back to work and into a normal routine."

P3 pupil Hannah told BBC News NI she was "very happy to be back at school".

Under the temporary arrangement, eight classrooms at St Anne's have been made available to Nazareth House pupils and staff.

Both schools will keep their own identities, the Nazareth House principal said, adding that she was hopeful her school will be back at its Bishop Street home after the February mid-term break.

Blackery said the upheaval since her school's closure was "something that no school community should ever, ever have to experience".

"I'd like anyone in authority who's listening to please, please heed me when I say this is devastating for a school community and it really should not ever happen to anyone again," she said.

Eamonn Broderick, chief executive of the Council For Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), said he was "delighted that an interim solution could be arrived at so quickly for the children of Nazareth House".

Broderick added: "The willingness of the team at St Anne's to provide accommodation demonstrates the values and ethos of Catholic maintained education in practice.

"Our primary objective remains delivering an exceptional standard of education in an appropriate and welcoming school setting.

"We look forward to welcoming the pupils of Nazareth House back once the interim works are completed."