Holy Cross

Holy Cross BBC Northern Ireland Drama Production

Appropriate age: S2 upwards

Produced by:
BBC Northern Ireland

Available for loan from:
The Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland (CERES)
University of Edinburgh
Tel: 0131 651 6274 / 6371
Fax: 0131 651 6511
email: ceres@ed.ac.uk

Length:
90 minutes

Type:
Video

For 12 weeks between June and September 2001, Holy Cross Primary School, located in the Protestant Glenbryn estate in North Belfast, was the focus of conflict. The scenes of naked sectarianism, including the throwing of a blast bomb, horrified television viewers around the world.

This dramatisation of those 12 weeks was made by BBC Northern Ireland. This film can be used in RME and PSE to stimulate discussion on sectarianism and religious intolerance.

St Augustine's RC Secondary in Edinburgh (see Good Practice section in this website) uses it with S3 and S4 pupils to stimulate discussion. Rosa Murray, Principal Teacher of Religious and Moral Education in St Augustine's outlines in brief how she uses the video. Click here for Rosa's ideas. For further information about Holy Cross, visit the BBC Northern Ireland Eyewitness website. There you can listen to and read different perspectives from those that lived in the Glenbyrne estate where Holy Cross Primary is situated.

There is also a section on sectarianism which leads to other activity areas looking at issues of difference, prejudice and discrimination.

After using the video, pupils could consider what actions they ought to take to tackle sectarianism and religious intolerance. You could use the 'Don't Give It, Don't Take It' section on this website for ideas. Engaging pupils in problem-solving, developing decision-making skills and promoting responsible civic behaviour contribute to a range of educational priorities such as Education for Citizenship, Enterprise Education and Equality and Fairness work.