Head blasts at ‘disparity’ over student allocations

Head blasts at ‘disparity’ over student allocations

16 January 2019

A GRAMMAR school principal has hit out at education chiefs for not equally planning for an expected increase for post-primary students.

Peter Dobbin, principal of Assumption Grammar School in Ballynahinch, says that the Department of Education (DENI) has addressed the need for additional students in Belfast, Bangor and Londonderry by awarding some schools additional places, but has failed to address the local need for 2019/20.

He has accused DENI of treating some areas in Northern Ireland differently to others and has urged the Department to address the local problem sooner rather than later.

“We know that this is a major issue waiting to happen,” said Mr Dobbin. 

“Statistics clearly show that there is a significant number of extra girls to be accommodated across our vast catchment area and I will be left with very angry parents and pupils who are extremely unhappy with not being allocated Assumption Grammar as their preferred choice.

“This would be understandable if all schools in all areas were being treated the same, but this is not the case. 

“How can some areas be addressed proactively and then other areas neglected? This disparity and the disrespect towards the parents and children in our local area, compared to other areas, is appalling.”

Statistics from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency show that an increase of an average of 150 children in this age group in the Down district annually over the next ten years.

However, last night a DENI spokesperson said that it had reviewed the anticipated shortfall and that no additional places for next year were needed in Ballynahinch.

“At the end of the admissions procedure in 2018, 91 places remained available in Ballynahinch, 35 of which were in the denominational sector.  It is not believed that additional places are required here in 2019. However, this will be revisited if the number of applications exceeds the number of places available in the area.”

The spokesperson reminded parents of the importance “of nominating a sufficient number of realistic preferences on their child’s application form”.

Mr Dobbin’s concerns were shared by other local principals. 

Joe McCann, principal of St Patrick’s Grammar School, said: “I’m not sure of the logic of why other schools are getting additional places and not others. There needs to be a fair allocation of extra school places to meet with this demand and it needs to be done in a way that is an even distribution.”

Saintfield High School’s principal, Sarah-Lucy Hinds, said that her school was consistently over-subscribed.

“I apply for temporary variation every year and got one extra place last year. I agree with Mr Dobbin. It’s better to address this and give us a proper number of places now,” she added.

“It’s heartbreaking having to turn away local families every year, particularly pupils from our local feeder schools.”

Maud Perry, principal of Down High School, acknowledged a “significant rise” of pupils in the Down area over the next 10 years, and added: “Down High would welcome the opportunity to allow more pupils and parents access to their school of first choice and could certainly accommodate more pupils if requested to by DENI.”

Kevin Lambe, principal of Shimna Integrated College, Newcastle, said: “Planning for future provision needs to challenge the various divisions in our society and plan ahead for a more cohesive approach, reflecting the society we are building towards.”