The third NAPCE Symposium in Belfast was a sell-out success, once again.

It was the second year in a row that the conference, at Stranmillis University College, was fully booked.

Speakers included Dr Nicole Cara (Teacher, Educational and Child Psychologist and tutor at University College, London) on the main conference theme of “Building Resilience in Schools: Supporting Pupil and Teacher Wellbeing”, and an opening address from NI Children’s Commissioner Chris Quinn on “Wellbeing in our schools: are we doing right by our children?”.

The programme also featured local NAPCE award winners in 2024: Fiona Boyd and Martine Rooney, Holy Trinity Primary School, Belfast – Winner of Pastoral Development of the Year; and Heather Law and Joanne Wilson, Glenlola Collegiate, Bangor – Winner of Providing Effective Pastoral Care for Learners (Special Recognition Plaque).

A panel discussion was chaired by Phil Jones, UK Chair of NAPCE, featuring Dr Caron Carter, Senior Lecturer in Childhood and Early Childhood Education, Sheffield Hallam University; Hilary Cunningham, Principal, Fane Street Primary School, Belfast; Jonny Hampton, Reach Monitoring; Claire Kerr, Director of Student Services and Wellbeing, Stranmillis University College; and Katrina Moore, Principal, Malone Integrated College.

Huge thanks to lead organiser Professor Noel Purdy OBE and to everyone at Stranmillis University College for their support with this event.

See below, a photo gallery of the event (click on any image twice to expand to full size).

All photos supplied kindly by Greg McCready.

The second NAPCE Symposium held at Stranmillis University College on June 24th was hailed a “huge success”.

The event featured an impressive range of guests speakers including Linsey Farrell, Deputy Permanent Secretary at DE and Nicola Byrne, Assistant Chief Inspector at ETI.

Delegates also heard good practice from some past winners of the National Awards for Pastoral Care in Education including Áine Deane, Sacred Heart Primary School, Derry and Raymond Herron, St Mary’s Christian Brothers Grammar School.

There was also a panel discussion, led by NAPCE National Chair Phil Jones and featuring Dr John McMullen, Queen’s University, Belfast (Educational Psychologist, Researcher and Educator), Jonny Hampton, Organisation Lead, Reach Mentoring, Niall Manogue, Principal, West Winds Primary School, Newtownards, Hannah Campbell, Nurture Leader and Programme Coordinator, St Patrick’s College, Dungannon and Sheila Lavery, Trauma Educator and Therapist.

Lead organiser of the event was NAPCe Journal Editor Professor Noel Purdy who opened the event.

For your information and reference, we are very pleased to share the presentation slides shown on the day with you below.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1w1xg1K4Yd5YjuFCYSIss_3VZHnN9OObF?usp=share_link