Ballougry given permissionto take on five extra P1s

The border school has been granted permission to accept five extra pupils. It demonstrates further evidence that the school is in rude health in terms of admissions, which have been on the up.

Back in March the Sentinel reported how 27 per cent of Londonderry primary schools - including Ashlea, the Fountain, Ballougry and Culmore - didn’t have enough pupils under John O’Dowd’s sustainable schools policy.

But the Principal of Ballougry Primary, Carol Campbell, reassured parents that although enrolment numbers fall short of the sustainable target chased by Mr O’Dowd the border school is in a strong enough position for a local schools shake-up not to impact on it.

Last month the Sentinel reported how Ballougry Primary was one of just 18 primaries across the Western Education and Library (WELB), which were allowed to exceed their admissions limits over the last two academic years.

Now Mr O’Dowd has revealed it is one of four local schools given permission to take on extra pupils in 2013/14. Greenhaw Primary (one additional place); Gaelscoil Neachtain, Dungiven (eight additional places); and Oakgrove Integrated Primary (two additional places) were also allowed extra places.