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Rathmore Grammar the latest Catholic school told to abandon testing

Thursday, 25 March 2010

One of Northern Ireland’s most heavily over-subscribed grammar schools will have to abandon academic selection under the latest proposals to be unveiled by the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education (NICCE).

The Commission was publishing its plans for the future of schools in Belfast, Lisburn and north Down today.

The 11 Catholic post-primary schools in the South and West Belfast and Lisburn area currently cater for 9,756 pupils and include three grammars — Rathmore, St Dominic’s and St Mary’s Christian Brothers.

Rathmore Grammar in Belfast had to turn away 41 A-grade students last year due to very strong competition for its 180 places for pupils starting at the school in September 2009. The popular Finaghy school resorted to a lottery to determine which young people would be allocated the final Year 8 places for the start of the 2008/09 school year and in that year had to turn away 77 students awarded the top 11-plus grade.

The long-term enrolment projection for the area indicates the need for approximately 8,000-8,200 school places by 2018.

The review concluded that there is a need for eight all-ability 11-19 ‘educational sites’ and that this will require four new buildings.

The options suggest co-educational schools at Rathmore and St Colm’s High and single sex schools at De La Salle College, Edmund Rice, St Genevieve’s High School at the Dominican education provision on the Falls Road, St Louise’s Comprehensive and then either a boys’ school at Corpus Christi College or a new co-educational school in the Crumlin/Glenavy/Lisburn area.

Meanwhile, the South and East Belfast and North Down area project involves four schools — Aquinas Grammar and Our Lady and St Patrick’s College in Knock and secondary schools St Joseph’s College in Belfast and St Columbanus’ College in Bangor.

There are currently 3,208 pupils in the four schools which have the capacity for 3,195 pupils. It is expected that there will need to be places for approximately 3,000-3,200 pupils by the year 2018.

The one proposal put forward by NICCE is for the four schools to remain but all to become co-educational and non-academically selective for admissions at age 11.

NICCE is putting forward proposals for Catholic schools across Northern Ireland — all are based on the key directive from the commission that every grammar school should begin phasing out academic selection and stop using it completely by 2012.

Copies of all the consultation documents can be downloaded at www.pprce.org

Consultation on all of the projects ends on May 31.

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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