Pupils in South Armagh have recently benefited from the donation of an automatic egg incubator from the Poultry Industry Education Trust. The gift was organised by PIET Trustee, Mr Basil Bayne. The incubator will enrich the learning experiences of the pupils while also providing some fun during GCSE Agriculture and Land Use lessons.

GCSE Agriculture & Land Use Studies is delivered in both Newtownhamilton High School and St Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen to pupils from the western region of Newry and Mourne Area Learning Community. Newtownhamilton High School Principal Neil Megaw explains “This course is now in its third year and is delivered every Thursday morning as part of a shared education collaborative programme involving pupils from the two host schools and also pupils from St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook and Newry High School. The donation of the incubator has generated much interest amongst the pupils with eggs due to arrive on site soon. We are extremely grateful to Mr Basil Bayne from the Poultry Industry Education Trust for ‘hatching’ a plan so that our pupils can benefit from this impressive piece of equipment”.

In response to Mr Megaw’s comments, Poultry Industry Education Trust Representative Basil Bayne stated “The Poultry Industry Education Trust is pleased to support the poultry content of the GCSE Course delivered at both Newtownhamilton High School and St Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen in this way and encourage an interest in poultry as a foundation for a possible career for students in the poultry industry.”