Three Catholic Schools To Amalgamate

Three Catholic schools in County Armagh are to amalgamate, Education Minister John O'Dowd has confirmed.

The move will see St Michael's Grammar come together with two secondary schools – St Paul's and St Mary's High Schools in Lurgan.

While this is not the first time a Catholic grammar school has amalgamated with secondary schools, previous merges have seen the institutions become all-ability colleges. On this occasion, however, the new amalgamated school will instead become a voluntary grammar school.

It is understood that the new school will operate from separate sites, but there are proposals for a new school to cater for more than 1,700 students.

Commenting on the decision, Mr O'Dowd said: "My approval of these proposals represents a hugely significant and positive step forward for post-primary education in the Lurgan area.

"The evidence, both local and international, is clear, mixed ability schooling can deliver better outcomes for everyone. The top education systems around the world combine excellence with equality of access.

"The time has come to take decisive action to end the outdated practice of selecting on the basis of ability. I commend the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools for putting forward this progressive proposal."

He continued: "Under the current Dickson Plan, pupils are divided up in the interests of institutions, not the children they are there to serve. Established friendships are split up and young people have their confidence crushed for no reason other than an arbitrary decision made on their future path. I cannot allow this to continue and I welcome the CCMS proposal.

"There is now real momentum gathering in favour of educating all children together and I welcome this gradual, but distinct, shift in opinion. This amalgamation will secure high quality education for all for generations to come."

(JP)