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Four Catholic schools to lose grammar status
Friday, 12 March 2010
Four top Catholic grammars will be forced to stop using academic selection under new plans unveiled by the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education (NICCE).
The Catholic Church is aiming to outlaw selection from its schools completely by 2012. However, it is already known that some schools are planning to rebel against this plan.
NICCE has revealed plans for five areas which have emerged from its post-primary review. More detail is due to follow on other areas over the next few weeks.
If the proposals are accepted, St Mary’s Grammar School in Magherafelt would amalgamate with St Pius X in the town to create a 2,000-pupil all-ability school.
The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, said the decisions taken at the end of the process “will shape the delivery” of Catholic education in Northern Ireland.
The school would be on a split site and “incorporate the ethos, pastoral care and teaching expertise of the two current schools”.
Proposals and options for Catholic post primary schools in Antrim, Greater Dungannon, South Derry and Ballygawley have also been published.
Among the options put forward in Co Antrim was that St Patrick’s College, Ballymena, would be a school for 11-14 year-olds, St Louis’ Grammar School, Ballymena, a school for 14 to 19-year-olds and St Benedict’s College, Randalstown, for 11 to 19-year-olds.
In South Derrry four schools were featured in the document— St Colm’s High School, Draperstown, St Mary’s College, Clady, St Patrick’s College, Maghera, and St Paul’s College, Kilrea .
Among the two proposals suggested was that “a formal collaborative partnership” of the three schools be developed to provide an “all-ability” education for 2,300 11-19 -year olds, while a second proposal suggested that two of the schools should be located in Maghera and Draperstown.
And a third school — located at a new site — would be created through a merger to cater for the pupils of Kilrea and Clady areas.
Similar radical reform has been proposed for St Joseph’s Convent Grammar in Donaghmore and St Patrick’s Academy in Dungannon.
The public consultation ends on May 31.
Gerry Lundy, Director of the Post-primary Review, urged all those with an interest in the provision of education to respond.
“The post-primary sector faces a number of significant challenges including declining demographics, the debate over the ending of academic selection, changes in the curriculum as well as the development of area-based planning,” he said.
Speaking at St Catherine’s College, Armagh, Cardinal Brady said:
“This is an initial consultation and an inclusive consultation.
“The Catholic Trustees want to explore with stakeholders, including other school providers, how we can co-operate in new and creative ways to provide the best possible education for every child.
“The decisions we reach at the conclusion of this consultation process will shape the delivery of Catholic education in Northern Ireland and I would urge everyone with an interest to respond.”
Copies will be distributed to parents in feeder primary schools as well as teachers, principals, governors and other school staff and can be downloaded at www.pprce.org
A consultation with post-primary pupils will also take place.
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Comments
141 Comments
bill
"i only know children will be treated the same"
How do you know that?
"of course you may get children who would bully and they would be chastised"
Can you prove that Protestant children would be chastised for bullying Catholics?
"one thing you can be sure of your children will not be abused or allowed to be bullied"
Why should I be sure of that?
"if a protestant child went to an all catholic school prove to me he would not be picked on"
I cannot not. So we are wise to continue with segregated education
Posted by John O'Brien | 03.04.10, 18:52 GMT
I am a student of Assumption Grammar and I hate what Catriona Ruane is doing. I worked hard to get here and am proud of being a student there. Co-ed education won't work as well as it already does. Why can't it just stay the same?
Posted by Hannah | 02.04.10, 19:47 GMT
It is an ambiguous message, linking Catholic and sex. You must mean "Gender."Please write responsibly.
Posted by chris mooney | 02.04.10, 14:25 GMT
Fed up being walked over, nope didn't take you up wrong just being ironic.
Anne, the vast majority of parents have children in non-selective schools they are therefore the majority.
Unlike pro grammar apologists they do not however form part of the 'old boys/girls' establishment. No ex-head of the civil service is promoting their views and they have designed no coordinated write in campaign voicing one side of the debate about education. They are therefore aptly described as 'silent'.
Ergo 'Silent majority'
Glad to help Anne.
Posted by Exasperated | 02.04.10, 13:24 GMT
fed up of moaners
"you sound bigheaded"
Another person with a beaten argument resorting to personal insult.
"no one has to prove anything to you"
If you want integrated education, you will have to convince Catholics that it poses no threat to us.
"so fester away in your own bigoted world"
Thank you. Now please let Catholics do just that and stop trying to get power over defenceless Catholic children.
Posted by John O'Brien | 01.04.10, 23:50 GMT
phl
"All schools that are ran by tax payer funds must be total public with out any type of religion be taught as a faith.. All schools that teach religion faith must be private schools meeting the states requirements."
That might be your opinion but Catholics will decide who controls the education of Catholics. Thank you.
Posted by John O'Brien | 01.04.10, 23:46 GMT
Merry
"I say ban all church ownership of schools. Who in their right mind would want their child being within twenty feet of a priest these days anyway...? "
Please leave that to Catholics to decide. Thank you.
Posted by John O'Brien | 01.04.10, 23:38 GMT
North Down
"How about doing away with single religion schools while they are at it?"
No so long as there are parents who want them.
Posted by John O'Brien | 01.04.10, 23:35 GMT
"Exasperated" Sorry you may have picked my comments up wrongly I wasn't referring to the grammar schools rather the review committee!
I don't think the church is in any position to dictate to any one how and where their children are educated. Especially without including parents and school principles views,making schools with larger number of pupils is not a solution to any existing problems. They should sort out their current issues and leave education alone.
Posted by Fed up being walked over | 01.04.10, 23:19 GMT
Exasperated - the silent majority? You? If only...
Posted by Anne | 01.04.10, 23:15 GMT
john obrien you sound bigheaded ,no one has to prove anything to you, its logical to say people like yourself, are the acne of this world, no matter how much balm you put on ,they will never be cured, so fester away in your own bigoted world.
Posted by fed up of moaners | 31.03.10, 18:33 GMT
Our system was not perfect, but our little country always outperformed the mainland. So why the need for a change?? Why has Ruane been allowed to demolish a system that was working for the majority of children? As for comments about "dummies" to have an effective community we need to have abilities in all areas. There are no dummies just ignorant people who prefer to label the youth rather than aid them.
Posted by Nee-naw | 31.03.10, 18:31 GMT
All schools that are ran by tax payer funds must be total public with out any type of religion be taught as a faith.. All schools that teach religion faith must be private schools meeting the states requirements.
Posted by phl | 31.03.10, 16:33 GMT
funny two grammar schools in North Belfast one male the other female will not become co ed! wonder why not?
Posted by joe | 31.03.10, 15:57 GMT
Sinn Fein: a party which comprises of people who left school with no qualifications at the earliest opportunity and most never held down jobs during their glittering career with the IRA...are now in charge of education. So many psychological axes to grind. This is going to get interesting. Pass the popcorn.
Posted by Greg | 31.03.10, 15:52 GMT
john obrien ,you would appear to be a moron,but you are entitled to your opinion, nomatter how wrong, why do you not trail yourself into this century, we all either get along or sink, what would you rather do.
Posted by william | 31.03.10, 15:24 GMT
john obrien, what evidence would you need, i only know children will be treated the same, of course you may get children who would bully and they would be chastised ,you would get the same child in every religion, one thing you can be sure of your children will not be abused or allowed to be bullied, i ask you the same question if a protestant child went to an all catholic school prove to me he would not be picked on, its a stupid question is it not.
Posted by bill | 31.03.10, 15:19 GMT
I say ban all church ownership of schools. Who in their right mind would want their child being within twenty feet of a priest these days anyway...?
Brainwash your kids with religion at home, but keep it out of school.
Posted by Merry | 31.03.10, 14:26 GMT
Dear "Fed up being walked over" I agree with you, the arrogance of these grammar schools is breathtaking.
As the majority of parents have their children in 'secondary' schools, which are accused by the 'Association of Quality Education' (HA!) as providing an education inferior to their beloved grammar schools, it's about time we challenged the 'powers that be!'
For too long as you say a small minority have dictated educational policy in Northern Ireland. These apologists for grammar arrogance are now running scared and will loose their influence.
Have confidence and faith in the right of our position more and more are rejecting 'Academic Selection' we (the silent majority) WILL win in the end!
Posted by Exasperated | 31.03.10, 13:54 GMT
this is an absoulut disgrace i am a pupil from assumtion grammer i have worked hard to get were i am, i dnt want it to be ruined, think of the teen pregnancys and crime rates they will go up .
Posted by shannon l | 31.03.10, 13:42 GMT
141 Comments