NI school that fits into back of car

By Fiona Murray
BBC News Website

When school principal Jennifer Kerrin wants to take her pupils out on a trip, she opens the back of her car and they all jump in.

For with just three pupils, St Mary's Primary School in Ballygowan must be the smallest school in Ireland.

So the two boys and one girl at the County Down school get a little special treatment in the classroom.

They even get to make jam and popcorn during maths class!

Three is not a crowd at this country primary school

But the country primary will close its doors next June - a few weeks after it celebrates 40 years of teaching generations of children.

Its fate is a reflection of the dwindling numbers of Catholic children in the area.

Last year, there were just 16 pupils and most of those have been transferred to other schools ahead of the closure.

But there is no air of finality at St Mary's; the pupils are eager to learn and Mrs Kerrin is just as enthusiastic as she was when the corridors were filled with tiny feet.

"I met with so much negativity about how it would be possible to teach the National Curriculum to a small number of children," she said.

Once filled with pupils, the three children now have the run of the school

"People thought it couldn't be done and that the children would suffer because they didn't have a peer group for team games. Really the opposite is true. There is so much more you are able to do because there are only three.

"I have had to rethink everything, it is not like teaching a big class. It does take a lot of organisation."

Mrs Kerrin, who has been principal for the last decade, has incorporated a lot of practical elements into the school day - to make it more fun.

Recently, the children brought in apples, pears and blackberries to make jam and, in the process, learned how to read scales and liquid measures and about what changes the fruit undergoes.

"They don't realise they are working and they are actually enjoying making these things. It is much more practical and by doing this they are learning so much," she explained.

"I have tried to bring a lot of fun into the lessons and they have really benefited from the one to one. We even use all the rooms in the school, rather than leaving them empty."

Mrs Kerrin has a special bond with each of the children

The school exudes an air of warmth. The corridors may not ring with the laughter of lots of children but the vitality which fills the school is almost tangible.

Far from feeling empty and desolate, the school feels more like a family, something the principal is particularly proud of.

"Because the school is so small, it is like your own children. You discipline them in the same way and explain things in the same way. Unfortunately, it will come to an end," she said.

In its heyday, the school had an intake of up to 80 pupils but the numbers have steadily declined, particularly in the last 10 years.

Figures from Hansard show that in 1996-7, there were 50 pupils, but just five years later that number had dwindled to 30.

Mrs Kerrin and classroom assistant Marie McCanny work hard to make school life as interesting as possible. The two women can often be seen in the playground skipping or playing tag.

There are regular archery and swimming lessons - given by Mrs Kerrin's husband, Malachy, - as well as music classes and a choice of playing badminton or basketball.

As well as regular reading, maths and science lessons, there are many trips planned.

The fate of the building and its equipment is unclear

Next week, the trio are being taken to a forest to forage for items associated with the changing seasons.

And the beauty is you don't need a minibus to transport three children. "I put them into the car and take them wherever," Mrs Kerrin laughed.

Seven-year-old Nathan Hagen, who is in primary four, said his favourite subject was playing and that the other two children are "both my best friend".

Amber Morrison, 10, who is in primary six, loves skipping and lessons with just two other pupils.

"It is better because you get more time to do the work" she said. However, she agreed that you could not forget to do your homework!

Primary seven pupil Brandon Millar, a 10-year old, equally enjoys lessons at the school because "we get time to do stuff."

Mrs Kerrin, is taking the children to Rome next March as part of the celebrations for the school' s ruby anniversary.

"We might as well mark the year and give these kids something they will remember for the rest of their days," she said.

"I made a vow to them to do the very best I could. It has been wonderful so far this year."

The school was repainted after an arson attack

But 40 years of education at the school have had their troubles. Three years ago three classrooms were destroyed in an arson attack.

The rooms were re-painted and school life subsequently returned to normality.

However, the school which opened on 31 May 1967 will close its doors for good in June 2007. The reality is two redundancies and an empty shell of a building.

Mrs Kerrin wants the books and some of the equipment - bought with money the school won in a competition - to go to developing countries.

But the closure is something which the staff do not like to dwell on; they are simply too busy.

"It is a joy this year," said Mrs Kerrin. "I am doing what I love and there is less stress. But it is a very emotional issue. I have given so much to the school and my family have. My kids were educated here.

"It is going to be awful because so much of my life is in here. It will be very difficult. "