Cranmore Integrated Primary School Celebrates Success at the 2026 Carson Awards.

The Carson Awards Showcase is an annual event which celebrates the creative talent of Integrated pupils by exhibiting the amazing projects they have been working on over the past year.  Cranmore Integrated Primary School (IPS) in Belfast was presented with two awards during this year’s Showcase.

The Integrated Education Fund (IEF) is delighted that Dan Gordon, renowned actor, director and playwright from Belfast, kindly gave his time to host this very special celebration event at Malone Integrated College (IC) 15 October.  Dan wrote and performed the acclaimed one-man show ‘A Rebel without a Pause’, which told the story of late comedian and Carson Awards-founder Frank Carson.  It also marks a significant year for the Carson Awards as it would have been the 100th birthday of Frank Carson this year.

Host Dan Gordon said:

“I am delighted to host the annual Carson Awards Showcase this year.  The Carson Awards Showcase offer a fantastic opportunity for young people to express themselves creatively under the theme of ‘What Integrated Education Means to Me’. As an actor, director and playwright, I have been so impressed by the wide variety of innovative projects on display.  The Carson Awards Showcase shows the potential and offers a glimpse into a very bright future for the next generation.”

The Carson Bursary grant programme and Carson Awards were generously started by late comedian and Integrated Education supporter Frank Carson, along with his son Tony Carson in 2008.  The Carson Awards Showcase gives those who have received a Carson Bursary or won a Carson Award the opportunity to show their creative projects. This year it felt fitting to hold the event in Malone IC, a school which has shown a real commitment to fostering and developing creative talents in their students.    

This year, Cranmore IPS received Second Prize in Key Stage One for their ‘Inclusive Hearts, Ambitious Minds’ School Poster Competition.  The judges appreciated the powerful message of inclusivity displayed so clearly in the winning poster by P4 student Danann.

Furthermore, Cranmore IPS received first prize in Key Stage Two for their fantastic felt artwork on the same theme of ‘Inclusive Hearts, Ambitious Minds’.  This piece of artwork represents the culmination of several months of collaborative work to renew Cranmore IPS’s school vision, mission statement, and tagline. The judges were very impressed by how it was a truly inclusive, community-wide project, with meaningful contributions from pupils, parents, staff, and governors.

Paul Caskey OBE, Chief Executive at the IEF, said:

“The IEF are delighted to be celebrating the 19th year of the Carson Awards.  The variety and quality of entries never ceases to amaze.  We want to congratulate Cranmore IPS on receiving two awards this year.  Cranmore IPS won Second Prize in Key Stage One and First Prize in Key Stage Two for two creative art projects on ‘Inclusive Hearts, Ambitious Minds’ which reflects the school’s continued commitment to delivering Integrated Education to their community.

The IEF also wants to thank Tony Carson for his continued support for the Carson Awards, which is a fitting tribute to the legacy of our friend and supporter Frank Carson.’

For more information on the Carson bursary programme and Carson Awards please see our website here:  https://www.ief.org.uk/our-work/grants/carson-awards/