History is being made in a little East Belfast primary school where not one but FOUR sets of twins are starting in P1.
With the twins making up almost a quarter of the entire class at Harding Memorial Primary School, vice principal Judith Baird says “there must be something in the water in the Cregagh”.
“I have never come across this before,” said Mrs Baird, “I’ve heard of a set of quads in the one class but never four separate sets of twins.
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“They’ve been in all this last week and they’re all doing really well and settling in.”
As Harding Memorial is a single stream school the twins, two sets of boys Alfie and Harry Beattie and Alfie and Jonathan Dickie, and two sets of girls, Zoe and Sophie Brown and Billie and Bindie Locke, will all be in the same class right up until they finish P7. But it’s a challenge their teacher Ruth McMullan is relishing.
“I’ve been a teacher for 16 years and I have never had or heard of this situation before. I’ve had one set of twins, but never four altogether so it’s quite remarkable.
“It’s lovely that we have two sets of boys and two sets of girls and while Billie and Bindie are identical, it’s lovely watching their wee personalities and seeing their different ways.
“They have just started this week and I’ve already had to ask ‘which one are you’ but they’re taking it all in their stride so far.”
At the moment, seven of the eight kids have started school but Zoe Brown hasn’t been able to yet as she continues her brave fight against leukaemia and hopes to start alongside her sister Sophie after the Halloween break.
“Sophie is doing really well but we’re all looking forward to the day Zoe can come and join us,” says Mrs McMullan.
Leah Brown, Zoe and Sophie’s mummy, says both girls, who each played the baby sister of Derry Girls character Erin Quinn, “are really looking forward” to when Zoe is well enough to go go school and the twins.
“I think Sophie is feeling a bit lost at the moment but she’s settling in fine and absolutely loves school and can’t wait to go in the mornings so it’s all good at the moment but not having Zoe there is effecting her.
“She’s at stage four and is responding well to treatment so all being well, she’ll be able to go to school after Halloween and the school have been very supportive of us.”
While Zoe and Sophie are not identical although they do look very alike, Leah says their personalities are very very different with Sophie loving music and dancing but her sister Zoe loving sport and climbing.
The differing personalities is a common theme with the other set of twin girls Billie and Bindie whose mummy Danielle said they’re “completely different”.
“Billie would be more reserved and likes to keep herself to herself but Bindie would be more outgoing and bossy but both look out for each other and care for each other.”
As for the boys, Alfie and Jonathan’s daddy, also called Jonathan, said that for the moment “they’re absolutely loving it”.
“Every morning they’re up and rearing to go as soon as the alarm goes off ‘let’s go daddy, let’s go’ and for them, having other twins in the class doesn’t seem to faze them.”
“Jonathan wants to be a firefighter and Alfie wants to be a policeman but that’s just this week - last week Alfie wanted to be Mo Salah and Jonathan wanted to be Ed Sheeran.”
Just like their classmates, Alfie and Harry’s mummy Liz says her boys “are getting on great.”
“Having all the twins in one class, I think it’s great for them to have each other but it’s a great school and we are really glad they’re in it.
“They’re both very sociable boys but Harry would be more into building and making things and Alfie would be more wanting to roleplay things and let’s pretend but they’re both big into rugby.”
As for their teacher Mrs McMullan, “I love teaching - you have to love it and you have to love the children and I really do and that’s what makes it worthwhile.
“It’s a lovely experience seeing them growing up.”
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