The principal of a Co Down Catholic primary school facing closure says they have been buoyed by the “strength of community” behind attempts to try to halt the decision.
John Hennessy was speaking as he attended a “show of solidarity” for St Anne’s Primary School in Donaghadee.
Joined by parents, members of the Donaghadee community and elected members from across the political spectrum, the group handed in a petition of 3,000 signatures to the Department of Education objecting to its decision to shut the school.
Mr Hennessy said there is still “widespread anger” over the move to approve the closure of the 91-year-old school.
“We just can’t see the logic,” he said.
“The decision really came out of the blue, we are still surprised.”
The closure was announced by the department in June, just a few weeks after parents at the school had voted for integrated status, a move supported by the Integrated Education Fund.
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But it was also facing a separate proposal from the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) to close it under its sustainable schools policy.
The school was initially told it would shut on August 31, before later being informed it could remain open until October 31.
“St Anne’s is located in one of the fastest growing towns in Northern Ireland, where pressure for primary school places are at a premium, so this decision just doesn’t make sense,” he said.
"The closure news at the time came as such as shock to us as we thought we had a great case for moving to integrated status.
“We have been seen as integrated with a small ‘i’ for a long time, we have a mix of religion and nationalities and we have so much support in the town.
"And given the school's excellent ETI (Education Training Inspectorate) report, living within budget and the school’s unique position as the only Catholic maintained school for seven miles, we were shocked.
"But the department approved its closure as 59 pupils did not meet their sustainable schools policy."
Mr Hennessy said support from the community has been "fantastic" and has led to the petition being handed over to department officials on Tuesday.
A number of elected members, including Alliance MP Stephen Farry, his party colleagues Connie Egan and Hannah Irwin as well as UUP MLA Alan Chambers, DUP MLA Stephen Dunne and Independent MLA Alex Easton, were among those who gathered.
"The strength of community has been fantastic – they are fully square behind us," he said.
“When the decision was first announced we had more than 50 pupils, we now have just 10 as understandably, parents have had to think about the child’s future.
“But we have had so much support and we just hope this decision can be reversed.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: "The Permanent Secretary’s decisions are now subject to legal challenge, and it is therefore inappropriate to comment further at this time."
A CCMS spokesperson said it is "committed to working with our sectoral partners to develop a network of sustainable schools.
"CCMS consulted on a proposal to discontinue provision in St Anne's Primary School by 31 August 2022.
"Subsequently, an alternative proposal to transform to Controlled Integrated status was brought forward by the school.
"Decisions on both proposals were made on 8 June.
"The Permanent Secretary did not approve the proposal for transformation and approved that provision at St Anne’s PS should end by 31 August 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.
"As these decisions are now the subject of legal challenge, it would be inappropriate to make further comment at this time.”
