CCMS Asks EA To Make Downpatrick Merger Proposals Public.
Down News can report that a spokesperson for the Education Authority has indicated that: “The Education Authority has received a request from the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools to publish a Development Proposal on changes to maintained post-primary education in Downpatrick.”
Three Downpatrick post-primary schools could eventually be merged following a consultation to be conducted by the Education Authority.
St Patrick’s Grammar School, St Mary’s High School and the De La Salle High School are subject to a Development Plan which is going out to consultation to the management boards, managers and directors of these schools.
The Development Plan if accepted could see around a combined total of around 1500 pupils from the Downpatrick catchment area merging under the banner of one educational establishment.
The spokesperson added: “In accordance with Article 14 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, the Education Authority is obliged to consult the trustees and managers of any school or schools which would, in the opinion of the Education Authority, be affected by the proposal.
“It is intended that the consultation documents will be forwarded to the affected schools on Wednesday 4 September 2019 and this will run for a period of four weeks, after which the proposal will be brought to the October Education Committee, for publication in the local papers.
Publication on the week beginning 21 October 2019 will start a two month objection period after which the decision is made by the NI Assembly Education Minister or in the absence of a Minister, the Permanent Secretary.”
Details on the development proposal process can be found on the Department of Education website, visit:
https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/development-proposals
