Commissionrecommends new Catholic schoolfor local area

The plan for a new school had been one of the suggestions put forward for discussion by the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education on the future of post-primary schools in an earlier report.

And this week the Commission confirmed it was now recommending the new build and was asking for a business case to be prepared by June of this year.

That will establish the need, location, delivery mechanism and support for a potential new co-educational school with a view to consultation with stakeholders as early as possible in the 2012/13 school year.

“This business case will include engagement with the NEELB to ensure that any new provision can promote access to provision for all children in the area, if they so wish” the report said.

“The business case will also explore the most appropriate mechanism to maximise opportunities for staff currently employed in the existing schools in the project area.”

The news has been welcomed at St Patrick’s Academy in Lisburn where thee had been fears pupils would have to travel to Belfast if an alternative proposal for no school in the area was accepted instead.

Staff, governors, pupils and parents have all written letters and signed petitions during the consultation process in support of a new school in the area.

St Patrick’s Principal, Dr Seamus Quinn said: “We are delighted at the trustee recommendations for the Lisburn, Glenavy and Crumlin area. For many years the Principal, staff, governors, pupils and parents have been lobbying for a new state of the art school. It is most gratifying that the trustees have agreed with us and instructed that a business case be drawn up in the almost immediately.

“St Patrick’s Academy has for many years provided the best all ability education for this region; we look forward to the establishment of a new centre of excellence for our community.

“Given the financial constraints, however, a new build is unlikely to proceed for a few years, in the interim St Patrick’s Academy and Rathmore Grammar will form a partnership to ensure pupils from both will benefit from each other’s expertise.”

Gerry Lundy, Director of the Post-primary Review, said: “We set out to ensure that all pupils educated in Catholic schools receive the best and most appropriate education available. It is our intention to ensure that each and every pupil receives quality education in modern well resourced schools. This cannot be delivered for all our pupils if we do not strategically plan for the future.”