The Mo Mowlam Centre at Oakwood IPS
In 1999, Mo Mowlam enabled the parents of Oakwood IPS to achieve their dream to educate their children together and to break down cultural, religious and social divides in doing so.
The Education Training Inspectorate (ETI) in our ETI Inspection Report, November 2024 recognised that:
The vision, ‘Learning, working and playing together for a better tomorrow’ agreed by the founders almost 30 years ago is regularly revisited, and continues to drive all aspects of the daily life and work of the inclusive community in Oakwood Integrated Primary School and Nursery Unit.
The Mo Mowlam Centre houses our sensory room, small group room and our multipurpose training room, which is used for literacy/numeracy withdrawal support, 1:1 social communication and peer group sessions for some of our primary pupils. It is also used for our Teaching and Learning Schools (NI) Training Sessions.
The Education Training Inspectorate (ETI) stated in our ETI Inspection Report, November 2024 that:
The school has made significant investment in developing its SEN provision, including building the capacity of all staff to meet the individual needs of the children. Early identification of SEN by the highly vigilant staff, in partnership with parents and external agencies, is prioritised and well-constructed individual educational plans (IEPs) are in place and are reviewed, monitored, and updated regularly, and guide very well the children’s learning journey. A range of very effective, well-planned small-group support interventions, delivered by highly skilled staff, are impacting very positively on the children’s outcomes, wellbeing, and self-esteem. These include, targeted literacy and numeracy support, social and communication support, focused sensory sessions, peer-support groups, and Lego therapy. Immersed in this calm, caring, respectful and inclusive environment, the children are happy and engage well with their learning and are making progress.
It is fitting that the centre, named in her honour, also helps us break down those barriers to learning which disadvantage some of our young people. The Mo Mowlam Centre is part of her legacy in Northern Ireland that we are all enjoying and a tremendous tribute to both her and the concept of children being schooled together regardless of religious or political persuasion.
The Centre which was funded by the Integrated Education Fund, Jack and Jackie McDonnell of The American Ireland Fund, the Reconciliation Fund of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, the Durkan Group and the Department of Education was officially opened by the former Secretary of State’s late husband Jon Norton.