New ‘La Salle Mercy College’ proposal for three-school merger

New ‘La Salle Mercy College’ proposal for three-school merger

26 April 2023

PARENTS and pupils are being asked for their views on the name of a new Catholic secondary school in Downpatrick.

La Salle Mercy College is being proposed as the name of the 1,600-pupil school, which is due to open in September.

The school will be an amalgamation of three existing schools — St Patrick’s Grammar, De La Salle High and St Mary’s High.

The new name has been suggested by an interim board of governors, which has set up a committee to consult and consider the proposal.

The committee is made up of representatives from the teaching and support staff, parents, students and parent governors.

A letter has been sent to stakeholders of the three schools asking for their views on the proposed name.

In particular, they were asked if they agreed with the name and if it was representative of the local community, inclusive and respected the identity of the three schools.

They were also asked if they had an alternative name and suggestions on the colour of the new school uniform and crest.

The controversial merger of a grammar school and two non-selective schools was approved by former Stormont Education Minister Michelle McIlveen last October.

Around 40% of pupils are set to be admitted through academic selection. The rest will be admitted on the basis that the new school is their nearest Catholic post-primary school.

The amalgamation has been welcomed by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) and the Department of Education, as well as De La Salle High and St Mary’s High.

A spokesperson for CCMS said last October: “The proposal will bring together De La Salle High School, St Mary’s High School and St Patrick’s Grammar School to create a new grammar school in the trusteeship of the De La Salle Congregation.”

The Department of Education said the proposal represented a plan for the re-shaping of post-primary provision in Downpatrick to address sustainability and provide high quality education long into the future.

However, staff and parents at St Patrick’s Grammar School have voiced their opposition to the move.

The Red High Parents and Friends Association (PFA) is supporting a judicial review by a primary school parent.

One PFA member said: “This move has the potential to ruin pupils’ futures and has been entirely thrust upon them.”