News

Catholic education enjoying upturn in Portadown

Pupils at St John the Baptist College. Picture by Matt Bohill.
Pupils at St John the Baptist College. Picture by Matt Bohill. Pupils at St John the Baptist College. Picture by Matt Bohill.

CATHOLIC secondary education is experiencing a resurgence in Portadown - with the opening of a new-model school.

St John the Baptist College, a non-selective co-educational college, opened this month.

The school educates children from ages 11 to 14 only at present. After that they will transfer to schools in Craigavon, Lurgan or Armagh for GCSEs and A-levels.

While this appears similar to the Dickson Plan, in which Catholic schools are no longer involved, it will remain free from academic selection.

It is operating on the site of the former Drumcree College.

Drumcree was the last remaining Catholic secondary in Portadown, having itself been created through the merger of two schools. Pupil numbers were low, however, with only around a quarter of available places filled.

There were fears that with Drumcree struggling that Catholic secondary education in the town would end.

However, enrolments have spiralled already at the new school - the numbers of Year 8 pupils in St John the Baptist are close to 80, up from 28 at the old school.

It is anticipated that St John the Baptist will continue to grow and develop into an 11-19 school, delivering a full range of subjects at GCSE and A-level, as a predicted population growth takes place.

For now, children will leave after three years.

Pupils may then transfer to any post-primary school at Year 11, although a "managed KS4 pathway" has been developed with Lismore Comprehensive College in Craigavon and St Ronan's College in Lurgan.

Principal Noella Murray said strong engagement with the community and reaching out to newcomer children and those from various backgrounds had helped boost numbers.

"We have children from 11 schools coming to us this year. When we started there were just two. We have gone out and formed strong links," she said.

"Some rural schools had stopped but we have gone out to them and reversed the trend. We want children to come here by choice, not because they have to.We are producing a quality education.

"In the last 10 years, there has been an influx of newcomer families. This year we are attracting newcomers but also local children. We are a fully inclusive school in terms of ability and background."

The school is operating a nurture unit, introduced a wide range of extra curricular activities and opened its doors to parents and the community at weekends. It is also working with gifted and talented pupils who may wish to take GCSE exams early.

"We are moving in the right direction. The message to the community is this school is open for business," Ms Murray said.