Northern Ireland

Name revealed for new integrated post-primary school in Coleraine

The 1,200-pupil school will be created by the merger of Coleraine College, Dunluce School and North Coast Integrated College

Ruth Harkness is the principal designate of the newly named Causeway Academy
Ruth Harkness is the principal designate of the newly named Causeway Academy

A new integrated post-primary school in Coleraine, partly run by Ulster University, is to be called Causeway Academy.

The merger of Coleraine College, Dunluce School and North Coast Integrated College, the 1,200-pupil school will be the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.

The name was announced on Wednesday and comes after engagement with pupils and staff of all three schools.

The new school is expected to be from operational from September 2026.

The Education Authority and the school’s interim board of governors have said they are “working towards ensuring that the new Causeway Academy will be on a single site for the first day of the new school opening on 1 September 2026″.

It has also been confirmed that Ruth Harkness has been appointed as principal designate of the school.

Ms Harkness, the current head teacher at Craigavon Senior High School, will take up post in October 2024.



She said he is “honoured to lead” the new school, which will be “bringing three schools in the Causeway area together to create a shared vision and collective ambition valued by all in our community”.

“Together, we will create a school where every student feels valued, challenged, and prepared for their exciting futures,” she said.

The interim board of governors with Ruth Harkness, principal designate
The interim board of governors with Ruth Harkness, principal designate

Jim McCartney, chairperson of the interim board of governors for Causeway Academy, said Ms Harkness is “committed to creating a nurturing and integrated learning environment which meets the needs of all young people”.