Closing Knockmore could be discrimination warns Children’s Law Centre

The CLC has been contacted by a number of parents of children attending Knockmore and has prepared a report which says it is clear the Board is wrong in separating children in the mainstream and pupils in the special units when calculating enrolment at the school.

“Given the high degree of integration of all pupils within Knockmore Primary and the fact that all pupils are clearly pupils of the school as a whole, it is the view of the CLC that the decision by the Board to separate the children in the special units from the overall enrolment figures when considering the viability of Knockmore Primary School is completely irrational and unjustifiable.”

The report also refers to the ‘unequal treatment’ of children with disabilities. “It would appear that upon calculating the number of pupils in any school with units attached that the approach which the Department of Education’s policy states which should be taken is the combined unit and host school figures. This is in contrast to what is being proposed by the Board with regard to Knockmore Primary School and begs the question with regard to the educational provision and apparent unequal treatment of children with disabilities when compared to children accessing an Irish medium education. The CLC believes that this unequal treatment of children with disabilities may amount to direct discrimination under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which cannot be justified. The CLC therefore urges the Board to reverse any decision to close Knockmore Primary School immediately.”

The CLC report goes on: “The Board states that Knockmore does not meet the threshold of 140 pupils for an urban school. However, the total population of Knockmore primary school is 159 pupils, When all pupils attending the school are counted within the enrolment figure.

“It would therefore appear that under the Department’s own Guidance that Knockmore Primary School, based on its enrolment figures, not only greatly exceeds the figures required to be considered for closure, but also should be considered for investment in the fabric of the school.”

The report concluded: “The Board, in its proposal to close Knockmore Primary School is placing resource considerations ahead of considerations about the needs of children who have special educational needs and disabilities without any regard to the concept of proportionality.

“This resource based process is fundamentally flawed and goes against the effective implementation of special education policy by the Board, which is needs based. In addition, we are aware that concerns have also been expressed about Commissioners taking decisions around whether to proceed with the proposed closure of Knockmore Primary School, rather than such serious decisions being taken by a properly constituted Education and Library Board with its democratic accountability.”

Alderman Paul Porter told this week’s meeting of Lisburn Council he was grateful to the CLC for submitting its views and got the support of the council for a letter to be sent to the Board highlighting the Law Centre’s comments and asking them to “cancel this process”.