Minister visits Millisle primary school

    Education Minister Paul Givan at Millisle Primary school with Linfield captain Jamie Mulgrew, principal Ian McManus, chair of Board of Governors, Derek Anderson, staff, pupils and local MLA Peter Martin.

    By Joe McCann

    EDUCATION Minister Paul Givan visited a local primary school last week to open new facilities and see the progress of a scheme to get children playing football.
    At the first visit to Millisle Primary School Mr Givan met school principal Ian McManus who showed him the ‘Books to Boots’ scheme which has grown both children’s reading ability and their uptake in playing football.
    Mr McManus said rewards for taking part in the programme included football sessions with Linfield FC captain Jamie Mulgrew.
    As a reward for reaching an accelerated reading word count target, pupils involved in the programme get to take part in a weekly football coaching session with the soccer star.
    “It was amazing to watch the enthusiasm and respect the pupils had for Jamie during the training session,” said North Down MLA, Peter Martin, who accompanied the Minister.
    “The combination of good quality, engaging literature and the lure of football coaching has been the secret to the scheme’s great success.”