Christian school plan mooted by parents

Christian school plan mooted by parents

28 March 2012 - by Ciara Colhoun

PLANS to develop the district’s first Christian primary school have emerged following confirmation that a local rural primary school is to close.

Education Minister, Mr. John O’Dowd, has confirmed that Ballykeigle Primary School outside Comber will close in June due to its falling enrolment.

The future of the local primary school was first brought into question last year due to its dwindling enrolment of 40 children.

Following a consultation process, the Minister last week said it was “with regret” he had to confirm the school’s closure, which he said was in the “best educational interests of the current pupils and future generations.”

After the announcement, a local parent, whose son attends Ballykeigle Primary, has revealed behind the scenes plans to create a Christian primary school in Ballykeigle’s place.

Mr. Zane Lightfoot said his five year-old son Reuben was devastated by the decision to close the school and feared he would lose the many friends he had made since joining primary one in September.

He said his family felt “gutted” by the decision to close the school and concerned about the impact on the community.

However, he said he hoped to preserve a primary education service for the local community and revealed early stage plans to create the area’s first Christian primary school, which he hopes could be developed on the site of Ballykeigle Primary.

Father of three Mr. Lightfoot, who is originally from New Zealand, said he had already taken a training course to equip him to run such a school and had made contact with five or six other families interested in the concept for their children. He said several families were “very excited” about the idea and, following confirmation of Ballykeigle’s closure he was planning to establish a families’ campaign group to progress the idea.

He said he had also visited similar schools in Dundalk and Ballymena to see how they operate.

“We have been praying about what God wanted me to do for the children and their education system and this opportunity came up,” he said.

“It is through system called Accelerated Christian Education and the idea is student-led learning with a lot of the subjects having the bible laced through them.

“It is an idea I have had for some time and following the sad news that Ballykeigle PS will close I will now be actively pursuing the concept.

“I believe it will work.”

Mr. Lightfoot said he believed the Christian school could be established with a relatively small group of children, depending on available funding.