Northern Ireland

Grammar schools seek extra places to cope with added demand

Proposals have been published on behalf of six grammar schools
Proposals have been published on behalf of six grammar schools Proposals have been published on behalf of six grammar schools

SIX grammar schools are bidding for extra places as they brace themselves for another bumper transfer year.

There has been a steady rise in the number of children transferring from primary to post primary.

In the last three years, this has increased by more than 10 per cent.

This means hundreds of children have been left initially unplaced due to popular schools being oversubscribed - even though there are thousands of empty desks elsewhere.

The 2020 cohort is estimated to be 24,017, up slightly from last year and from 21,732 in 2017.

The Department of Education has said it anticipates several areas may face significant pressure in 2020.

These include Belfast, Newtownards and north Down, Dungannon, south Derry, Antrim Town and Newry.

The department said schools with significantly more applications than places in under-pressure areas could apply for consideration of a temporary increase for either one or two years.

Separately, `development proposals' have been published on behalf of six grammar schools that are seeking permanent increases.

If approved, 95 extra pupils would be spread across the schools from September. They would also be able to admit more pupils in subsequent years.

The schools include Assumption Grammar in Ballynahinch, Bangor Grammar and Aquinas, St Malachy's and Our Lady's and St Patrick's in Belfast.

In addition, St Joseph's in Donaghmore wants to double the number of Year 8 pupils it can admit into its Irish-medium unit.

The proposal has been signed by Archbishop Eamon Martin, who is chairman of the board of governors.

An Sruth is a non-selective stream attached to the main school. There is, therefore, no requirement to carry out the transfer test to be admitted.

A `case for change' document in support of the application noted a steady and consistent upward trend in demand for places.

"Without an increase in the admission number for An Sruth there will be an unmet need for post-primary IME," it adds.

"This will frustrate the department's responsibility to encourage and facilitate the demand for Irish-medium education as detailed in the Belfast Agreement 1998.

"Without this increase in approved IMS numbers, the department will not be in a position to meet growing parental demand for their children's post-primary education to be bilingual."

Meanwhile, Strangford Integrated College also hopes to increase its admissions number from 110 to 130, with an annual phased increase in enrolments from 670 to 760.

Each proposal is out for consultation for two months. Education minister Peter Weir will then make final decisions.