New Year Honour: Principal of first integrated school gets an MBE

The principal of Northern Ireland’s first integrated secondary school, who is set to be made an MBE, has paid tribute to her colleagues.
By Staff Reporter
Published 31st Dec 2020, 01:03 BST
Amanda McNamee, principal of Lagan College who was awarded an MBE for services to education in the New Year's Honours list. Photo: Lagan College/PA WireAmanda McNamee, principal of Lagan College who was awarded an MBE for services to education in the New Year's Honours list. Photo: Lagan College/PA Wire
Amanda McNamee, principal of Lagan College who was awarded an MBE for services to education in the New Year's Honours list. Photo: Lagan College/PA Wire

Amanda McNamee is to be recognised for services to education in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

“I was delighted, it was lovely news in what has been a challenging year in education,” she told the PA news agency.

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“I have been a teacher for 26 years and I have worked in four different schools, Belfast Boys’ Model, Drumragh Integrated College in Omagh, Methodist College and now Lagan College.

“While I will be made an MBE, I would like to think that all the people I have worked with, from my very first school to now, have helped to shape and form the type of educator that I have become.

“I have been very fortunate to work with amazing people in all of those four schools, and that has made me into a better teacher and principal.

“But I’m still quite young, I’m only 48, so hopefully there will be more opportunities in the next number of years.”

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Lagan College was the first planned integrated school in Northern Ireland and celebrates its 40th year in 2021.

“It’s lovely to be so hopeful looking towards the future in terms of the school’s journey, and recognising I have been part of that story for 16 years, I was head of learning support for six years and 11 years this new year as principal,” she said.

Less than 10% of pupils in Northern Ireland attend officially integrated schools, with the majority attending either state-controlled or Catholic-maintained schools.

Ms McNamee said she hopes to see the number of formally integrated schools rise in the coming years.

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“It’s an opportunity working in an integrated school in Northern Ireland, I hope to see more opening in the next decade, more people opting to consider enabling their children to have a shared education,” she said.

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Related topics:MBENorthern Ireland