Opposition to Ulidia expansion proposals

The school submitted a development proposal to the North Eastern Education and Library Board earlier this month to expand its size by way of “phased increase” from 500 to 660 by the year 2019.

The proposals, which are currently out to public consultation, will be managed by increasing year 8 admissions by 20 pupils per year with effect from September 1, 2015.

Objecting to the proposals, Downshire School principal Jacqueline Stewart said: “There are spaces in both Downshire School and Carrick College so therefore there is no need for an increase in another post-primary establishment. To allow this would assist the sacrifice of the controlled sector provision to the expansionist policy of the integrated sector.

“The other schools in the town take children from all cultures, creeds and denominations and are integrated in ethos if not in funding.”

In a letter sent to parents last week, Carrick College principal Hedley Webb referred to the proposals within the area plan published by NEELB in June 2013. “[These] included bringing Carrick College and Downshire School together, Carrick Grammar to grow to become a school of 880 pupils, and Ulidia being allowed to grow to become a school of 660 pupils,” he wrote. “For Ulidia to want to step outside this area plan sets a worrying precedent. They ought to wait for the plan to be implemented in full for all of the post primary schools – not seek to force their way ahead.”

Voicing “stong objection” to the plans, the board of governors at Carrick Grammar claimed: “In a time of such financial hardship for schools due to cuts to the education budget, any expansion of Ulidia would mean resources for children in the other three schools being cut further.”

However, Ulidia principal Eugene Martin said the proposal remained in line with the post-primary area plan. “The development proposal is borne out of the area-based plan, which made provision for Ulidia to expand to 660 pupils. We held off until the area plan was agreed in June last year, but we have heard nothing since about when it’s going to come to fruition,” Mr Martin added.

“Others are perfectly entitled to object to this proposal, but the fact is we are oversubscribed and have had to turn parents away year after year.

“The Department of Education’s Sustainable Schools document says a [post-primary] school has to have over 600 students to remain viable.”