Explanation given for school closure proposal

Explanation given for school closure proposal

10 April 2013

THE body which wants to close a Castlewellan primary school has explained the reasons behind the proposal.

The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) has proposed that St. Patrick’s Primary School, in Burrenreagh, should close as part of a major shake-up of primary education across Northern Ireland.

The CCMS has recommended the closure to the South Eastern Education and Library Board which if adopted would mean an end to a school which has been providing primary education in the Burrenreagh area for over 150 years.

A major campaign has been launched by staff, parents and the local community in a bid to have the proposal overturned. They argue the school is educationally and financially viable and the only reason it has been earmarked for closure is its low enrolment figures which have been driven down because of persistent rumours of closure for many years.

This week the Chief Executive of the CCMS, Mr. Jim Clarke, stressed that a decision has not been taken on the proposal and the matter is now out for consultation.

In a letter to Down councillor, Patrick Clarke, the CCMS official explained the school does not meet Department of Education guidelines for primary schools.

“When St. Patrick’s is compared against the requirement of the Sustainable School Policy, it is evident that the viability and sustainability of St. Patrick’s faces considerable challenges as not only does it not meet the criteria for rural schools as set out in the Department of Education sustainable schools policy, it is also located within a reasonable travel distance, as defined in the sustainable schools policy, of other suitable schools,” said Mr. Clarke.

“I would stress that no decision has been made in respect of the closure of the school I can confirm that as part of the consultation processes the CCMS will work together with the local community in the area and consider alternative solutions to that proposed by CCMS.

“If it can be demonstrated that the alternative solutions can meet challenges faced by the school in the current educational policy context, CCMS will seriously consider them,” he added.

Councillor Clarke said there are a number of other schools in the area which do not meet the criteria on enrolment numbers.

“Given that St. Patrick’s Primary School meets all the criteria for a sustainable school except enrolment I have to seriously question why then is St. Patrick’s Burrenreagh being singled out for possible closure,” he said.

“There is a very strong mood and determination to overturn the proposal to close this rural school and I would be urging the CCMS not to be putting any obstacles in front of St. Patrick’s Primary School but rather solutions for its retention and future in the local community.”

Councillor Clarke, who rejected the closure proposal, called on the CCMS to act as an “honest broker” and listen to all options and plans to retain the school.