A PLAN to bring pupils from grammar and non-grammar schools together in Co Down has been resurrected.
Catholic education chiefs are consulting on the future of secondary schooling in Kilkeel.
The plan involves St Columban's College and St Louis' Grammar School, which between them have about 700 pupils.
The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) and trustees, the owners of the schools, said there is a need for rationalisation.
They have now begun a consultation with staff, governors and parents.
It has been proposed that St Louis' grows in size and St Columban's closes.
While this is a preferred option, no final decision has been taken.
Discussions about the two schools have been held, on and off, for years.
About five years ago, the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education unveiled plans for a series of mergers and closures across the north. The aim of this was to create a new network of all-ability schools.
At that time, it was intended that a review would "determine how best the educational opportunities for pupils in St Columban's College may be achieved as part of the transition to a larger St Louis'".
That was to include consultation on the potential closure of St Columban's and be subject to "guaranteed access for current pupils" to Catholic post-primary education in the area.
There was, however, no movement and both schools reopened the following September.
Part of the problem for St Columban's was that its neighbouring grammar school said it had no plan to become all-abilities, would continue using 11-plus tests and even issued a hard-line statement promising it would "not change".
Now, CCMS is revisiting the issue. Pupil numbers at St Columban's have fallen from 193 five years ago to about 150 now.
"The rationalisation of Catholic post-primary education in the Kilkeel area has been under consideration for a number of years, in line with the Department of Education's area planning and capital investment processes," a CCMS spokeswoman said.
"CCMS in conjunction with the trustees of St Columban's College and the trustees of St Louis' Grammar School have commenced consultation with staff, governors and parents about the rationalisation that is required.
"Trustees of both schools have determined a preferred option which they are consulting on, of one school for the area, to be achieved through the expansion of St Louis' and the closure of St Columban's.
"Additionally they are consulting on St Louis' becoming a bi-lateral school with admissions being determined through selective and non-selective routes."
