Education Minister, John O’Dowd has made decisions on five development proposals affecting four Catholic maintained post-primary schools in the North Belfast and Glengormley areas.
From 1 September 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter:
- Little Flower Girls School and St Patrick’s College will amalgamate to form a new 11-19 co-educational post primary school with an admission number of 195 and enrolment number of 1,300.
- Mercy College will become co-educational and its admission and enrolment numbers will change to 115 and 750 respectively.
- Edmund Rice College will become co-educational and its admission and enrolment numbers will change to 115 and 750 respectively.
Speaking about his decision Minister O Dowd said:
“The children and young people of North Belfast and Glengormley deserve equality of access to sustainable and viable schools capable of effectively delivering the full statutory requirements of the Entitlement Framework.
“This suite of Development Proposals provides for strong and sustainable education provision for the future that will meet the needs of all pupils in the area and provide them with greater choice and opportunity to access a broad and balanced curriculum.
“These proposals are the result of several years of planning and I commend CCMS and the schools involved for their work in this regard. It has been a challenging road for all concerned, but I am satisfied that my decisions will future proof Catholic provision in this area for many years to come.”
Notes to editors:
1. The EA, on behalf of CCMS published the following five development proposals on 19 November 2015. The two-month statutory objection period for the proposals ended on 19 January 2016.
· DP 440: Little Flower Girls’ School: With the view to facilitating the establishment of a new Catholic 11-19 co-educational post-primary school with an enrolment number of 1300, admission number of 195 to Year 8 and a 6th form of 325 places (being in effect an amalgamation of St Patrick’s College and Little Flower Girls’ School, it is proposed that Little Flower Girls’ School discontinue with effect from 1 September 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter.
· DP 441: St Patrick’s College: With the view to facilitating the establishment of a new Catholic 11-19 co-educational post-primary school with an enrolment number of 1300, admission number of 195 to Year 8 and a 6th form of 325 places (being in effect an amalgamation of St Patrick’s College and Little Flower Girls’ School, it is proposed that St Patrick’s College discontinue with effect from 1 September 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter.
· DP 442: New College: A new Catholic 11-19 co-educational post-primary school with an enrolment number of 1300, admission number of 195 to Year 8 and facilitating a 6th form of 325 places (being in effect an amalgamation of St Patrick’s College and Little Flower Girls’ School) be established with effect from 1 September 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter.
· DP 443: Mercy College: It is proposed to increase the admission number of Mercy College from 110 to 115 and the enrolment number from 650 to 750 and become co-educational with effect from 1 September 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter.
· DP 444: Edmund Rice College: Edmund Rice College will expand and become co-educational on 1 September 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter. The proposed enrolment number is 750 with an admissions number of 115 to Year 8.
2. The proposals were approved as published with the exception of DP 442 which the Minister modified to remove the reference to the number of sixth form places, as schools do not have separate approved enrolment numbers for sixth form pupils.
3. A copy of the relevant submission which the Minister considered will be published on the Department’s website.
4. These proposals will provide a total of 4,900 Catholic maintained post-primary places in the North Belfast and Glengormley area, of which 2,800 will be provided between the schools involved in these proposals. The two Catholic grammar schools in this area (St Malachy’s College and Dominican College) will provide the remaining 2,100 places.
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