Magherafelt education proposals slammed

DUP Mid Ulster MLA Ian McCrea has expressed his concern over the Education Minister’s proposals plans to restructure Post Primary Education for schools in Magherafelt and urges people to respond to the on-going consultation.

“Over the past few weeks I have spoken with a number of people in the Magherafelt District regarding the Education Ministers proposals for Schools in Magherafelt and having listened carefully to the concerns expressed by teachers, parents and pupils it is clear that there is no support for the proposals to merge the Rainey Grammar School and Sperrin Integrated School and remove the sixth form from Magherafelt High School.

“I can assure people that I will be opposing these proposals but more importantly it is vital that every parent and pupil must respond to this consultation and make it clear that we will not accept these nonsensical proposals.

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“Everything the department is trying to achieve is already in place through the Magherafelt Learning Partnership which is held up as an excellent model of good practice.”

Mr McCrea said there are different ways to respond to the consultation one of which is Online and the other via post. The web address for the online form is http://www.puttingpupilsfirst.info/ then click on NEELB – Magherafelt District Council and follow the form from there. For paper copies of the form contact your school or feel free to call at my constituency office in Magherafelt on 028 796 32664. The closing date for responses is October 26.

Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Mid-Ulster, Sandra Overend has urged the Mid-Ulster people to respond to the Post Primary Consultation. Sandra said:

“As the Ulster Unionist MLA for Mid -Ulster I attended the public meetings recently at The Rainey and at Magherafelt High School. , Both meetings, which were very well supported, showed a great swell of opinion who want to safeguard the local schools.

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“Indeed I congratulate the Principals and Governors for the proactive and positive way in which they are moving forward with their campaigns.

“In my opininon, it is important that we must present a strategic response and use this opportunity to promote the great successes of the local provision of education in Magherafelt, including the shared education partnership. This Learning Partnership has been promoted by the NEELB as a model of sharing excellence and the six Magherafelt schools have quite rightly boasted about this for quite some time.

“I would urge each and every person: parents, students, past pupils, and even families of future pupils to respond to the consultation that closes on 26th October 2012.”

“For further assistance on responding to the consultation paper please do not hesitate to contact my Constituency Office at 1 High Street, Moneymore or Tel 86748090.”

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