The start of the new school term at Enniskillen Integrated Primary this week marked a significant milestone. As 270 children poured through its doors on Monday morning, the school - which was viewed on a world stage in June 2013 when US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron paid a visit - marked its 25th anniversary.

Fifty-four pupils entered the current primary one, only 10 less than the entire school population on its opening day at the start of September 1989, On September 1, 2014, John Maxwell, a founder of the school and a current member of the Board of Governors, joined the Principal Adele Kerr, two of the original teachers, Una O’Donnell, vice Principal, (formerly St. Ledger), and Cathy Burns, fellow staff and pupils as they embarked on the new school year - 25 years on from the school’s historic launch. Right through the school’s quarter of a century, Cathy has taught P1 and Una has taught P3.

At its outset - and for some time afterwards - Enniskillen Integrated Primary operated in Nissen huts and its first Principal was Miss Cathy Cooke (now Asater). Mrs. Adele Kerr succeeded Cathy in 1999.

John Maxwell, who held office as Chairman of the Board of Governors for a long period and remains on the board, has maintained his long association with the school, where two of his children, Kerry and Robbie were among the first intake of pupils. Kerry is now a G.P. and Robbie is a university lecturer.

Enniskillen Remembrance Day Bomb was the catalyst for the school, reflected John, who in 1979 went through the devastation of losing his 15-year-old son Paul in the Mountbatten boat bombing at Mullaghmore.

The development of an integrated primary had been John’s idea originally: “I had been involved in integrated education in college for many years and felt why not start at primary school age.” Edwin Graham and Joe Mulvenna came on board with John along with other people to try and help develop the idea. “We had a public meeting to see what the interest would be,” remembered John. “More people turned up than what we thought,” he recalled, adding that it meant they could get it off the ground. It grew from there and the opening day took place in September, 1989. “It has gone from strength to strength,” says John, who believes it is “thanks to a great staff and great Principals”.

John has retained an interest all along, and he feels it has more than fulfilled the ideals that they had for it.

It was followed five years later by the launch of Erne Integrated College, which is open 20 years this week. “Parents wanted their children to continue in integrated education and that was the motivation for the secondary,” indicated John.

Adele Kerr is now in her 16th year as Principal of the Primary, where the Nursery opened in 1997. Another landmark had been on September 1, 2007, when their new school building opened its doors.

“Due to the growth we are about to build two new classrooms,” indicated Mrs. Kerr. She is delighted that they have reached their 25 years’ milestone and that the school is “so well established now”. She pointed out they were re-inspected in June and the ETI (Education and Training Inspectorate) have said they are still maintaining their outstanding status.