'Big' changes? Future plans for High School being considered

The Ballymoney school will be looked at along with St Joseph's College and Loreto College - both in Coleraine - and Dominican College in Portstewart.

Of five proposals put forward for discussion, those that Our Lady of Lourdes figure in say it 'would be a challenge to ensure that every pupil across the area had access to the full Entitlement Framework curriculum at Key Stage Four'.

It is also stated in the options which involve Ballymoney that 'the three schools would vary significantly in the number of pupils at 11-16'.

Official figures in the report show there are 223 pupils at Our Lady of Lourdes, 348 at St Joseph's College, 484 at Dominican and 792 at Loreto.

At present there are 223 pupils aged 11-16 in Ballymoney, 890 in the Coleraine schools and 366 in Portstewart.

Under the proposals Our Lady of Lourdes or any of the schools would have to attract at least 500 pupils.

The report said: 'There are currently 1,847 pupils in the four schools which have a capacity for 2,170 pupils. It is expected that there will need to be places for approximately 1,600-1,700 pupils by 2018.'

The report also says a Sustainable Schools policy indicates that post primary schools should operate with a minimum number of 500 pupils at age 11-16 and 100 at post-16.

The report further says other challenges include:

* significant changes made to the curriculum by the Department of Education.

* the introduction of Area Based Planning of education provision.

* a policy on gradually moving away from academic selection at age 11.

* an increase in surplus places.

* the requirement to increase access to a wider choice of subjects for all pupils through the Entitlement Framework by 2013.

The report says: 'We have a very successful Catholic school system and we want to ensure that it is appropriately planned and managed so that future generations of children across the community can continue to avail of high quality education.

'Our aim, as providers of Catholic education, is the development of faith communities alongside the provision of education and pastoral support, allowing all young people to reach their full potential in life."

Views of local people are being sought.

The report adds: 'This document examines in detail the provision of post-primary Catholic education in the Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portstewart area.

'The options or proposals contained herein have been drawn up over a lengthy period by working closely with the school principals, governors and Trustees in the Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portstewart area.

'There are no recommended solutions but a set of options or proposals we would ask you to consider. We are also interested to consider any alternative proposals which you may wish to offer.

'We want to hear the views of all those with an interest in the long-term provision of education in Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portstewart,' said the report.

The consultation period remains open until May 31.

Once the consultation process is completed all responses will be analysed and a report provided to Trustees to facilitate the identification of their preferred option for post-primary education in the Catholic-managed sector and for each local project area. It is anticipated that the reports will be completed and made available by early autumn.

A preferred option in a local area will then go forward to a further stage of consideration and consultation with the individual schools, their key stakeholders and other educational partners.

No timescale for implementation of the changes is mentioned.

The report says there is an acute awareness of the need to manage the process of change carefully and once the option for the area is agreed a plan will be devised to address key concerns.

That includes:

* ensuring stability for pupils already in the schools.

* addressing the education of special needs pupils.

* consideration of staffing needs and

* how to make best use of existing schools while allowing for any new work to be done.

The report adds: 'The plan will focus on the need for change to happen smoothly over a number of years. It is important to stress that discussions are taking place across the area to improve education for pupils as well as preparing for change.'

The report says there are five options but no specific sites in each town are mentioned as that will be decided later in the process.

Here are the current options:

* Option One

One 11-16 school and two 11-19 schools

Key features of the option include:

• an 11-16 school in Ballymoney;

• an 11-19 school in Coleraine;

• an 11-19 school in Portstewart;

• at the end of Key Stage 4 pupils in Ballymoney

would have the right to transfer to either of the

two 11-19 schools;

• the three schools would vary significantly in the

number of pupils at 11-16;

• it would be a challenge to ensure that every pupil

across the area had access to the full Entitlement

Framework curriculum at Key Stage 4; and

• all pupils could have access to the full Entitlement

Framework curriculum at Post-16 with a significant degree

of collaboration with other schools and providers.

* Option 2

Two 11-16 schools and one sixth form college

Key features of this option include:

• an 11-16 school in Portstewart;

• an 11-16 school in Coleraine;

• all pupils from both 11-16 schools would have the right

to transfer to a sixth form college in Coleraine for Post-16

education;

• all pupils could have access to the full Entitlement

Framework curriculum at Key Stage 4 with a significant

degree of collaboration with other schools and providers;

and

• all pupils could have access to the full Entitlement

Framework curriculum at Post-16 with a degree of

collaboration with other schools and providers.

Option 3

Three 11-16 schools and one sixth form college

Key features of this option include:

• an 11-16 school in Ballymoney;

• an 11-16 school in Coleraine;

• an 11-16 school in Portstewart;

• a sixth form college in Coleraine;

• the three 11-16 schools would vary significantly

in the number of pupils at 11-16;

• all pupils from the three 11-16 schools would have the right

to transfer to the sixth form college in Coleraine for post 16

education;

• it would be a challenge to ensure that every pupil across

the area had access to the full Entitlement Framework

curriculum at Key Stage 4; and

• all pupils could have access to the full Entitlement

Framework curriculum at Post 16 with a degree of

collaboration with other schools and providers.

Option 4

One 11-19 school

Key features of this option include:

• one 11-19 school in Coleraine;

• all pupils could have access to the full Entitlement

Framework curriculum at Key Stage 4 with a degree of

collaboration with other schools and providers; and

• all pupils could have access to the full Entitlement

Framework curriculum Post 16 with a degree of

collaboration with other schools and providers.

Option 5

Two 11-19 schools

Key features of this option include:

• one 11-19 school in Coleraine;

• one 11-19 school in Portstewart;

• there could be a variation in the size of the two schools

provided each school was able to provide the full

Entitlement Framework curriculum; and

• all pupils could have access to the full Entitlement

Framework curriculum at Key Stage 4 and Post-16 with a

significant degree of collaboration with other schools and

providers.

* The report says the views of all pupils, parents, staff and governors on the options are important and anyone TWO youths threw bottles causing damage to the windscreen and roof of a Range Rover at Mill Street, Ballycastle. can send in responses to: Ballymoney, Coleraine, Portstewart, Post-primary Review, Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education, 1 Killyman road, Dungannon, BT71 6DE or go to www.pprce.org or email written responses to [email protected] before May 31, 2010.