Mr. Jake Proctor:

If I may I will respond briefly to the question Senator D'Arcy asked me, and I hope it will help him understand the reason integrated education has aided my development. To pick up on what Mr. Frith said about the 11-plus transfer test and how individuals in their 30s and 40s are still damaged by that, it had really damaged me, and after I got my results I suffered depression for a brief stage. I spent a long time alone in my bedroom. I was very upset about that but when I went to Strangford, which was a non-selective school, I got a fresh start academically and socially, and that has helped me achieve academically. I do not want to repeat what I said at the outset but that is one of the main benefits that has aided my development.

Another benefit would be that we explore culture in classes such as history, religion and citizenship. We explore culture in physical education, PE, by playing Gaelic football, something I would not have had the opportunity to do in my own community. In terms of language, we were laughing coming down on the train because I said I was not much of a linguist but I would not have had the opportunity to learn the Irish language if I had attended the local controlled school. I got that opportunity through integrated education at Strangford.

In terms of friendships, as I said at the outset, I would not have made the friendships I have made across the divide had I gone to the controlled school. That is another opportunity integrated education has given me. I could go into more detail but I am aware we do not have much time.

Those are the four points I wanted to make. Integrated education has aided my development. I know it is not easy for the members to grasp that in the brief time available to us but they have to understand that when I came into integrated education, I did not know one Roman Catholic person. Now, my four best friends are Roman Catholic. My four best friends went to a maintained primary school. My friendships now are across the divide and in my mindset, as far as Jake Proctor is concerned, there is no divide.