'Teachers will be robots in the future'

Ballymena Primary School turns 175 years old this year and pupils at the school have been learning about the past and looking towards the future.

The school opened in May 1849 with 111 pupils. Today there is more than double that number.

“The school will have taught thousands upon thousands throughout the generations” said principal Elaine Ritchie.

“The web of the school community goes fairly wide and people have gone into all walks of life after being a pupil here."

The school was first called the Model Primary School, then County Primary School and now Ballymena Primary School.

“It's gone through quite a lot of changes," said Ms Ritchie.

"But it has served the people and community of Ballymena for a very long time."

The school’s history is evident throughout the listed building.

The original front door is still visible, original prints of the building’s plans adorn the walls and in the hallway there are vintage desks with inkwells.

Staff at the school also share its history.

Dessie Rock, the school's crossing patrol man, is a past pupil who now has great nieces and nephews at the school.

“I know loads of the kids," he said.

"I know their grannies and grandads, uncles. It’s a community feel.

"It’s a good school. It was a good school when I went and it’s a good school today.”

Vice-principal Gareth Bridges is also a past pupil and said he was thrilled to be planning for the school’s 175th birthday celebrations.

“The children have been doing lots in class," he said.

"We have put together a tile mosaic of self-portraits of every pupil and staff member in the school to commemorate it.

"And we are putting on a show as well - Mary Poppins - to tie into that historical era."

'Canes and rulers'

As for the pupils, they are expecting big changes in the next 175 years.

Lilith is in P5 and she thinks teachers might have it easier in the future.

“Teachers will all be robots," she said.

"In the future the teachers won’t have to be in the school, they can be anywhere they like, in Spain or something, and there's just a camera on the robots for the teacher's face.”

Shannon, who is in P7, is happy some things have changed.

“Back in the olden days teachers were allowed to hit children with canes and rulers," she said.

"I’m glad that doesn’t happen any more”.