New Foyle must take account of Lisneal surplus

The plan also reveals that over 50 per cent of Londonderry’s post-primary schools are in financial stress; that there is huge inequality in terms of educational achievement between the city’s secondary and Grammar Schools; and that plans to expand capacity at Oakgrove Integrated College may have to be cancelled in light of 875 surplus pupil places in the city at present.

These are just some of the startling findings of the Western Education and Libarary Board’s (WELB) newly-published area plan on post-primary provision.

‘Putting Pupils First: Shaping Our Future Strategic Area Plan: Post Primary Schools’ was published last week and is out for public consultation until October 26.

The plan was requested by Education Minister John O’Dowd who last September said he wanted frameworks completed by all local educational authorities within the school year just passed.

The report points out that there is a current surplus of 137 places at Lisneal College and stipulates that in planning for the new Foyle College in the Waterside “consideration should be given to the surplus capacity which exists within the area.”

The plan states: “Lisneal College is located on the Waterside area of Derry City and received a new build school in September 2007.

“In recent years, as a result of a declining pupil population, the College has experienced a downturn in enrolment numbers. The College currently has a surplus capacity of 137 places.”

In reference to the proposed new co-located Foyle College it adds: “The new College will relocate from its present split site campus on the cityside to a new site on the Clooney Road, located on the Waterside and is part of a shared education development with Ebrington PS on the Clooney site.

“The vision is for the continuum of education on a single site with nursery and primary education provided by Ebrington PS and post primary provision by Foyle College.

“The current approved long-term enrolment for the new Foyle College is 850 pupils. In planning for the new Foyle College, consideration should be given to the surplus capacity which exists within the Area.”

Amongst the report’s main recommendations is for Foyle’s new build to be taken forward, as soon as possible, following consideration of the surplus capacity in the council area.

One of the report’s most startling findings is that seven of 13 post-primary schools in Londonderry are in financial stress: one school, for instance, has a projected deficit of 50 per cent or greater.

Meanwhile, two schools have projected deficits of 25 per cent or greater and four schools have projected deficits of greater than five per cent or £75,000.

Elsewhere, the report shows that there is a also massive discrepancy in the grades achieved at secondary and Grammar schools in the city.

For example, four out of 13 Post Primary schools have less than 40 per cent of pupils achieving 5A*- C GCSE (3 out of the last 4 years); and three out of 13 Post Primary schools have less than 25 per cent of pupils achieving 5A*- C GCSE including English and Maths (in both of the last 2 years),

In contrast one out of four Grammar schools have less than 90 per cent of pupils achieving 7A*- C GCSE (3 out of the last 4 years); and zero out of four Grammar schools has less than 85 per cent of pupils achieving 7A*- C GCSE including English and Maths (in both of the last 2 years).

Significantly, the report also suggests that a development proposal to expand capacity at Londonderry’s only integrated College may have to be knocked back.

WELB is concerned at the number of surplus places within the Derry City Council area with 10,470 post primary school pupils and 875 surplus post primary school places: enough surplus to fill a school.

It references Oakgrove’s expansion plans stating: “Oakgrove College currently provides an Integrated Post Primary provision within the Derry City Council Area. The College is located in the Waterside area.

“Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) has put forward a provisional verbal proposal that the College intends to extend its capacity number, through a Development Proposal.

“Any increase in the capacity intake of Oakgrove Integrated College will have an impact on existing post primary provision within the Council Area. An in-depth investigation is required to identify the impact of the proposal on current Controlled, Maintained, Voluntary and Post-16 provision within the Council Area.”

The plan recommends that an investigation into the impact of the proposed increased capacity within the Integrated sector on the Controlled, Maintained and Voluntary Sectors, be carried out.

Further proposals are that the recent proposals of the Derry Diocesan Programme Board regarding Catholic education in the city be progressed and that there should be an investigation into the impact of a proposed new Irish Medium Post Primary School.