Maguiresbridge Primary School has recently been named the Best School in Fermanagh at the Families First NI Education Awards 2022.

A number of staff members of the Fermanagh primary school attended the special awards ceremony, which was held at Titanic Belfast on Saturday, April 9.

The ceremony was compered by Cool FM radio host Pete Snodden, who announced the winners of the different categories on the night.

Three schools were finalists in the 'Best School Fermanagh' category – Lisbellaw Primary School, St. Patrick's Derrygonnelly, and Maguiresbridge Primary School, with the latter being announced as the winner of the award and presented with a trophy.

Talking to The Impartial Reporter, school principal Honor Irvine said that the school community is "delighted" to be acknowledged with the award.

"We are very proud, proud of our whole community. That's from the governors, the parents to the staff and pupils, and how we work together.

"Especially because of Covid-19 and the challenges that we have faced over the past two years, to be recognised as a school of excellence, we are really proud of ourselves.

Maguiresbridge Primary School staff at the glittering Families First NI Education Awards 2022, held recently over in Belfast.

Maguiresbridge Primary School staff at the glittering Families First NI Education Awards 2022, held recently over in Belfast.

"We were delighted to be awarded the Families First Education 'Best School Fermanagh' award," she said, adding that the black tie awards ceremony was "a lovely event".

Families First NI host awards ceremonies across the province, shining a light on the best within the family industry.

"Once a year they put on education awards and schools are nominated by parents or members of the community," explained Honor, noting that Maguiresbridge Primary School was nominated by a parent.

"Then their panel decides which schools go through from the different counties, because there are schools represented from all the different counties around Northern Ireland, both primary and post-primary."

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Two weeks before the ceremony, voting opened on the Families First NI website, where parents and members of the public were given the opportunity to vote and leave comments.

As principal, Honor had to complete a detailed questionnaire about the school's ethos, how the school caters for the mental health and wellbeing of the children, the challenges that the school overcame across the past two years, and its focus on outdoor learning.

"We put all that into a questionnaire and that went to a panel of judges as well," said Honor.

Grateful that the school was recognised for its care and strive for excellence, she added: "We really, really did appreciate it."