EA chairman visits Saintfield school to hear future plans

EA chairman visits Saintfield school to hear future plans

4 June 2025

EDUCATION Authority Board chairman Mervyn Storey visited Saintfield High School on Monday to discuss the school’s future development.

Mr Storey was welcomed by the principal, Miss Sarah-Lucy Hynds, the vice-principal, Mrs Victoria Derby, and members of the board of governors.

Saintfield High School has been consecutively oversubscribed for more than  30 years with demand rising to 91% above the approved admissions number for Year 8 enrolment.

The school is currently oversubscribed by 66% for the next academic and 47% on first preference applications alone. 

Although the school has been granted a temporary variation to enrolment for the last four academic years, including for 2025-2026, Miss Hynds said a “permanency to a change in approved admissions and overall enrolment must be granted with urgency”.

She remarked: “For over thirty years Saintfield High School has not been permitted to meet the needs of its community on a permanent basis.

“Our temporary variations have made a significant impact upon our families within the wider area, but we must be able to grow permanently to cement this impact for the benefits of the young people we serve.”

Miss Hynds added: “It is an exciting time in Saintfield High School’s history. For the new academic year we have our highest enrolment yet and our school community simply goes from strength to strength.

“The Department of Education NI and the Education Authority NI recognise and understand this, and now is the time for action.”