I went to this wee primary school and it was great, lovely teachers who take a great interest in…read morethe pupils. Not sure what principle is like now but the ones I had when i was there were great

St Patrick's College Bearnaghaeha (which means windy gap in Irish, hopefully not a pun towards the…read morestudents!) is the school where I spent the first 5 years of my secondary school education. It's a strange mixture of 1950s buildings with a recently constructed technology and design department. This school is one of the strictest school I have ever been to, but this was not a bad thing by far. I was a lazy kid and without these teachers really pushing their classes and keeping a tight watch I probably wouldn't have gotten a single qualification. The place was really turned around into the top class institution it is now by its Principle P.J O'Grady who wants students to take pride in their college so much so that he can often be seen confiscating baseball caps from students wearing them on the walk home so as to not take away from the uniforms appearance. A great college of which I have a lot of fond memories.

I couldn't rate Queen's University any less than 5 stars, simply because I work here. The building…read moreitself is amazing, the surrounding gardens are beautiful and very well kept. It's also very close to Botanic gardens which its nice for lunch time walks. There's so many places in and around the area to go for a coffee, breakfast or lunch and dinner or drinks, spoilt for choice.

The Great Hall is an amazing venue - it's like stepping into another world. I have been to drinks…read morereceptions, fundraisers and experienced a formal tour of it. Breathtakingly beautiful it feels majestic with its chandeliers, wooden paneling and array of paintings on the walls. Should not be missed! I believe it's a venue which can be hired for special occasions, events and weddings. Queen's itself has beautiful Tudor Gothic architecture that is lovely to walk around. Home to the Naughton Gallery and Queen's Film Theatre and right beside beautiful Botanic Gardens. Visitor tours can be arranged which provide a history of the university - well worth a visit.

Although it is tucked in one of Newtownards' lesser travelled streets (North Street to be precise)…read moreyou cannot miss the Web Theatre due to its rather bright (and suitably dramatic) yellow front. The theatre is a hub of dramatic development for young people, with classes ranging for those aged 6 months to 16. As well as acting, classes also include ballet and musical theatre- there is even a talent agency which the young people can join. Whilst this may appear to be a typical theatre school (albeit a rather expensive one) at first glance, I was surprised to learn that it is also Northern Ireland's only privately owned theatre. With shows ranging from traditional music to plays by local amateur dramatic groups, the majority of the shows are produced and performed by local talent. In recent years there have also been a number of national touring productions that have visited the theatre. It is also the home of a local amateur dramatic group which performs a pantomime each year and is well supported. The 150-seat theatre may lack the grandeur of Belfast's opera house, but its intimate atmosphere gives it a certain quaint charm. There is also a lobby area within the theatre which serves as a bar during intervals (where various wines can be purchased) as well as a cafe downstairs. The theatre is almost reminiscent of a museum, with photographs of its conversion from a 18th century factory scattered throughout. As well as plays, the theatre's stage also plays host to childrens' birthday parties- as it offers a package where children can dress up in theatrical costumes and engage in a number of party games, complete with backgrounds, sound and a special effects system. The parties are also tailored to a number of themes such as pirates, princesses and even a space setting. Although the drama lessons may be a tad expensive (especially in the current economic climate) the Web Theatre is truly one of Ards' treasures.

This is a brilliant, sport-mad, musical school and its exam results speak for themselves. The staff…read moreare great people, committed to their pupils' learning and to combatting bullying. I'll be very sad to leave Inst!

Whitehouse Primary school was destroyed last July (2009) in an arson attack. This stunned local…read moremembers of the community and left many shell shocked. The 350 pupils of the Primary School have been attending temporary classes in nearby Newtownabbey Community High School. In May 2010, The Department of Education approved £3.6m funding to rebuild the school. It is unclear when building work will be finished. In a news report, a stunned Mr McConkey (the schools headmaster) said that current arrangements for his pupils sharing facilities in a high school means they have cramped classrooms, not enough toilets, no access for hot meals for many pupils, limited space outside and no assembly hall. This school was my own Primary School and is one of the best in the area. I will provide updates regarding the school as and when they occur. I hope all involved with the school know that they have the support and best wishes from the community around them.

There's nothing worse than long, dark, winter nights when all you do is sit at home in front of the…read moreTV. That's why evening classes are such a great idea, they are a perfect way to liven up your mid-week, learn something new, have fun and meet people. I've been attending art classes through Open Learning for the last few years which have included acrylic, watercolour and oil painting and I've loved every minute. A great way to relax, de-stress and pick up new skills. Open Learning which is based within Queen's University Belfast have been running adult day and evening classes for decades. The range of courses offered is extensive and includes art, complementary therapies, languages, computing, photography, creative writing, first aid, history, politics, music, wine tasting and philosophy plus many more options. Full course details can be found online at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofEducation/StudyattheSchool/OpenLearning/ Classes are taught in 10 weekly sessions starting each year in autumn, new year and spring. You need absolutely no prior qualifications or experience. It's just a case of enrol, pay a reasonable fee and turn up for class. Enrolment takes place online, by telephone, post or in person by dropping into the Open Learning Office located in 20 College Green, Belfast. There is an option to build up CAT (Credit Accumulation and Transfer) points and gain a Certificate if you wish. Or you can just do the classes for fun, as I do. I promise you will not be disappointed with these brilliant, interesting, leisure classes.

Most folks from Belfast will know this place as the venue for the future teachers of Northern…read moreIreland to get thier invaluable training. I know it more as a venue to see shows in (in thier performance space) and also to attend training days in connection with work. The room they gave us was spacious, bright and well ventilated, especially considering it was a very muggy day, and there was an abundance of coffee and tea available, as well as some nice biscuits - the lunch in the refectory was lovely actually - quite surprising. There was a choice of roast chicken or lasagne, with lots of side dishes and salad extras, and a selection of apple pie and custard or chocolate mousse for desert - all paid for by those running the course - so we were happy campers.