Relationship-Building Through Music: Deele College and The Royal and Prior Comprehensive School

The partnership between Deele College and The Royal and Prior Comprehensive School in Raphoe promotes peace, reconciliation, and relationship-building through music and community activities, with every pupil playing an active role from start to finish.

What began several years ago with the joint initiative of the Transition Year Musical, has steadily expanded into a vibrant network of cross-community activities. The musical provides numerous opportunities for collaboration for not only students and staff but also for parents, local community organisations, businesses and clubs. These collaborations are building genuine friendships and strengthening long-term community ties. Read on to learn more about the transformative impact of PEACEPLUS ASPIRE on pupil confidence and positive staff development!

Throughout their PEACEPLUS ASPIRE partnership, lead teachers Kathy Ann Gibson and Maureen O’Donnell recognised the importance of collaboration and the positive impact this experience has on students year after year. Together, they have developed shared school projects that bring students together to support the community, complete collaborative tasks, and participate in a variety of positive, relationship‑building activities. Through this work, staff and students from both schools actively promote and strengthen vital community links, reinforcing the core theme of peace and reconciliation. As a result, students build confidence, develop teamwork and conflict‑resolution skills, and form meaningful friendships across both school communities.

When talking about community development, teacher Maureen O Donnell from Deele College said:

Our links within the community have strengthened significantly over the years, and I believe they continue to grow each year. It offers an opportunity for families, members of the local community, and the wider Raphoe area to come together and share in this experience. This is one of the biggest shared cultural events this area has, and it promotes inclusion, pride and a sense of belonging across the town.

Further reflecting on PEACEPLUS ASPIRE and the importance of community involvement on students, one student from the Royal and Prior shared:

 We saw our parents chatting outside and chatting to people they hadn’t met before or hadn’t seen in years.

The community was there for us.

Both schools have been working together for many years now, but collaboration, careful coordination, and logistical planning have been key to their success. Both schools initially struggled with aligning schedules; however, they have achieved far more by working together. Despite parents being unsure at the beginning and the presence of religious differences, the PEACEPLUS ASPIRE programme has helped to bridge these gaps and has clearly shown the value of shared education and collaboration.

When talking about overcoming challenges and working together, teacher Kathy Ann Gibson from The Royal and Prior said:

I know it sounds like such a cliché, but we really do achieve more together. Initially, some parents were unsure about joint activities, but open communication and showcasing the benefits helped build strong support. strengthen links within the community. We found that students who engage in our project have so much fun and they are learning without even realising it. Everything we do is shared evenly, and that’s very important to both of us.

This partnership has had a transformative impact on the staff, pupils and community involved in PEACEPLUS ASPIRE. Below are some reflections shared by the students:

We are all still really close from all those experiences and opportunities that we got to be able to get to know each other.

The musical was really exciting for us. It definitely pushed me beyond my comfort zone and challenged me to take on the responsibility of a lead role.

When we started practicing for the musical, if you were in the room, you could see a divide between the schools. Over the course of the year, it was less obvious who was in Deele and who was in Royal other than the uniform. We were all definitely more mixed.

I loved it personally. I definitely increased my confidence and my social skills. Prior to TY and the musical, third year me wouldn’t be in this room right now. Being able to speak and just be here but after doing TY and the musical, I am friends with most people in the room now. If I saw them on the street, I’d be able to talk to them and have a conversation.

Bringing the two schools together. Doing the musical, the two years can come closer together.

It does help put down the boundaries between our two schools and throughout the community it just helps for everyone to be equal. I really enjoyed it.

This partnership continues to go from strength to strength, showcasing the long‑lasting impact of PEACEPLUS ASPIRE on all those involved. Pupils begin the project as two separate schools, but through rehearsals, community activities, and working collaboratively towards one shared goal, they become active members of their community and are united through music.

To learn more about PEACEPLUS ASPIRE, check out our website here.