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Fresh decision on Clintyclay PS yet to be made

Clintyclay PS near Dungannon. Picture by Cliff Donaldson
Clintyclay PS near Dungannon. Picture by Cliff Donaldson Clintyclay PS near Dungannon. Picture by Cliff Donaldson

EDUCATION chiefs are yet to take a new decision on a closure-threatened Catholic school attempting a transformation to integrated status.

The Department of Education is re-considering two separate proposals affecting Clintyclay PS near Dungannon.

The school, which has seen its pupil numbers increase, wants to be the first Catholic school to become integrated. The threat of closure, however, remains hanging over it.

A proposal to shut the small school was approved in 2015, but this was later quashed after a legal challenge. An alternative proposal advanced by the school's board of governors to change its management to grant-maintained integrated status was rejected.

In December, the department was told to take a new decision.

Its sustainable schools policy recommends that at least 105 pupils should be enrolled in a rural primary school.

Supporters of Clintyclay, which opened in 1893, have argued while pupil numbers are low, and always would be low, the school has a stable enrolment and should not be under threat.

It has close to 40 pupils this year and its numbers are capped at 47. It also welcomed its biggest P1 intake in years with eight new pupils starting last September, compared to just two last year. In addition, it admitted five pupils into its reception class.

A new principal was appointed last year.

Fiona Hampsey said the school was this year celebrating its 125th anniversary and had been overwhelmed by support from the community.

"There has been a significant number of new houses built in the Clintyclay/Clonmore area in recent years, with more houses under construction and new developments passed, this has brought new families into the area, it therefore comes as no surprise that there is a steady increase in the school population and we anticipate that this growth will continue," she said.

"We have great plans for our school and look forward to at least another 125 years of providing high quality education for the children from Clonmore and surrounding areas."

The high court was told in December that the board of governors and other interested parties would provide updated information before the department permanent secretary Derek Baker made a fresh determination.

"The department is still considering the retaking of decisions in relation to both development proposals," a spokeswoman said last night.

"The department is considering all evidence including the updated information provided and will make a recommendation to the permanent secretary in due course."

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TIMELINE

May 2013: The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools says it plans to consult on the potential closure of the 35-pupil primary

May 2014: A ballot of parents achieves a 100 per cent result in favour of 'transformation' to integrated status

May 2014: A development proposal for closure is published

June 2014: A second development proposal, backing the switch to integrated status, is put out to public consultation

October 2014: Education minister John O'Dowd takes decisions on both proposals, turning down the transformation bid and approving closure

Dec 2014: Parents launch a legal challenge

Jan 2015: John O'Dowd says he will robustly defend his decision and adds "transforming to integrated status is not a solution to falling enrolment"

March 2015: Mr Justice Treacy quashes the closure decision

Dec 2015: Judgment is reserved John O'Dowd's appeal against the quashing of his decision

March 2016: High Court says it will reconsider its quashing of the decision

Dec 2017: High Court tells the Department of Education is to take a new decision