School set to lose 55 pupils after army pull out

School set to lose 55 pupils after army pull out

CUMRAN Primary School in Clough is expected to lose up to 55 pupils when the 2 Rifles Regiment quits Ballykinlar Army Base in June.

The school is expecting to be dealt the significant blow to its enrolment of 217 when the local base is transformed into a training centre as a result of the regiment’s relocation to Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn.

There are concerns that the withdrawal will have an impact on the school’s future budget with almost £3,000 allocated to the school per child. Cumran Primary School’s budget for this year is £623,334.

The UK Independence Party’s local representative, Alan Lewis, has called on education officials to maintain the school’s budget at its existing level for three years to give management time to adjust to the dramatic pupil reduction.

“I call on the South Eastern Education and Library Board and Department of Education to recognise this is a significant loss to the school and I have written to both requesting that the school’s current level of funding be retained,” he said.

“The Ministry of Defence may also have a part to play and I have asked that schools which will have significant losses due to 2 Rifles redeployment be considered for special Ministry of Defence funding which would be awarded to assist public-funded schools to minimise the effects.

“The army has been a friend of the community in Ballykinlar and the surrounding area as well as a major contributor to the local economy.

“I hope the Ministry of Defence plays and active role in minimising the loss to local schools.”

School principal Mrs. Rhonda Moles said Cumran Primary School would continue to produce an outstanding service to pupils despite any possible changes to enrolment.

“Through the excellent facilities available, the Board of Governors and staff at Cumran Primary School will continue to prepare pupils for life in the 21st century,” she said.

“We are recognised as an outstanding school by the Education and Training Inspectorate and despite changes that will take place at Cumran Primary School we will continue to produce an outstanding education to many children in our local and wider community.”