Future of secondary schools in spotlight

Future of secondary schools in spotlight

18 April 2018

THE future of two secondary schools in Downpatrick and Ballynahinch will be re-examined within months.

Education officials will consult on the future of Blackwater Integrated College and The High School, Ballynahinch, by October, as part of a new educational action plan.

The schools have been pinpointed for action because of their enrolments, which do not meet the government’s minimum recommended threshhold of 500.

Latest available figures show that Blackwater College has an enrolment of 212 and a capacity for 400 pupils, while The High School has an enrolment of around 168 and a capacity for 380 children.

It is recommended that the school’s managing authority and trustees now consult on options for their future provision within mid and South Down.

The two secondary schools were also included in last year’s action plan, but no progress was made with officials instead concentrating on rationalisation of Catholic secondary education in  Downpatrick and primary provision in Castlewellan, which had also been listed as priorities.

With consultation now formally underway for the creation of a single Catholic super school in Downpatrick and a new integrated primary in Castlewellan, attention has turned to The High School and Blackwater College.

With officials indicating they are keen to “encourage and facilitate the development of sustainable [...] integrated schools’” speculation is mounting that the preferred option may be a large integrated college or a shared campus.

The principal of Blackwater College, Mr Stephen Taylor, confirmed the school was working with the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education as “part of a bigger plan”.

“We are looking at ourselves in the longer term and are working very closely with NICIE because our future has to be part of a wider plan regarding integrated provision,” he said.

“We will be part of anything moving forward relating to integrated education and we are high up NICIE’s list of priorities.

“We are fully committed to taking Blackwater forward and being part of the increase of integrated provision in the mid and south Down area.”

However, Mr Taylor added that there were no “discussions in any shape or form” to merge the two schools.

“The High School in Ballynahinch is controlled and we are integrated and there has never been such an amalgamation,” he said.

The High School’s acting principal, Mr Paul Marks, said they were open to discussion to ensure the future educational provision for young people in the area at the highest level.

“There has been no firm proposal put to us by the Education Authority, but if one is suggested the Board of Governors will, in the first instance, discuss and give considered opinion to any proposal made,” he said.

“We will endeavour to maintain a high school provision for children in our area which delivers the best possible outcomes for them.”

Mr Marks said smaller schools like his provide opportunities for enhanced pastoral care and academic success, The High School at the top of the league tables for similar schools in the region. 

However, he accepted that the school’s enrolment meant it did not meet government criteria on sustainability.

“Our total school population has risen compared to last year and we project it to rise again next year,” he said.

NICIE chief executive Roisin Marshall said she welcomed the possibility of growing and developing post primary integrated provision in Downpatrick and surrounding area.

“It is our intention that Blackwater Integrated College will grow and develop providing more places for young people in an integrated setting,” she said.

“To plan for the future we must start now and our priority is to offer integrated provision for those parents who would like their children to be educated with children from different religious and cultural backgrounds.”