PUTTING PUPILS FIRST: SHAPING OUR FUTURE
North Eastern Education and Library Board
Post-Primary Area Plan
CONTENTS
Executive Summary Page 3
Foreword Page 4
Section 1: Introduction Page 6
Section 2: Context Page 7
Section 3: Aims, Objectives and Constraints Page 11
Section 4: Overall Area Profile Page 16
Section 5: The NEELB Central Area Page 28
Section 6 The NEELB Northern Area Page 45
Section 7 The NEELB Southern Area Page 62
Section 8 Summary of Proposals Page 79
Appendices Page 82
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Executive Summary
In September 2011, the Education Minister, John O’Dowd MLA, commissioned the Education and Library Boards to develop strategic area plans for restructuring education provision across the province.
In accordance with the Area Planning Terms of Reference issued by the Department of Education in December 2011 this area plan sets out proposals for the future shape of post-primary education provision across the North Eastern Education and Library Board area.
The plan has been developed following an extensive period of consultation, collaboration and engagement with school principals, Governors, pupils and parents, a range of stakeholders including trade unions, political representatives and representatives from education sectors. The area plan has been refined to take account of the responses to the consultation. The full report on consultation is included as an Annex to this main document.
Information is presented into Central, Northern and Southern clusters of Council areas. A profile of population trends which show a continuing decline in projected enrolments to 2018 with a predicted increase up to 2025 within the NEELB is explained in detail within each section of the document. Currently post-primary education is available in 49 schools. Details on enrolments, capacity and the number of unfilled places within each school are presented.
The key challenges arising from the Viability Audit are common within each Council area and include the challenge of meeting the requirements of the Entitlement Framework, the declining and low enrolment in a number schools, projected budget deficits, duplication of provision in the selective sector and the provision of appropriate education pathways for young people with equitable access to high quality education for all pupils.
Having considered all the relevant information and the outcomes from consultation, proposals are listed for each area and summarised in Section 8.
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Foreword
The Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986 (Articles 5 and 6) outlines the duty of the Education and Library Boards to secure efficient and sufficient provision of primary and secondary education within the Board area to meet the needs of all pupils.
The North Eastern Education and Library Board has, since its inception in 1972, remained committed to excellence in the delivery of education so that every pupil can realise their potential and contribute to a caring, inclusive and progressive society.
In striving to realise this aspiration, the Board has aimed to ensure that every pupil has: access to a broad and balanced curriculum with opportunities to realise his or her potential; an education in which the learning outcomes are appropriate to their needs; access to quality teaching delivered in a caring and supportive environment; education delivered in modern, well-resourced facilities, suitable for the delivery of education in the twenty-first century.
The North Eastern Education and Library Board considers the planning for the development of such high quality educational provision within the controlled sector, and where appropriate working in conjunction with other sectors, to be an important issue. It is fully recognised that such planning and the decisions on the strategic provision of schooling in the area is a matter of the highest importance to families and future generations of pupils and young people.
In response to the statement by the Education Minister on 26 September 2011 the North Eastern Education and Library Board, working with CCMS and other school sectors, commenced a process of collective, strategic planning for area provision.
This area plan contains detailed data relevant to all post-primary schools in the North Eastern Education and Library Board, with the exception of Independent Schools. This verified data was collated by the North Eastern Education and Library Board as part of the Viability Audit in January 2012. However, Board officers will consider updated verified data as and when it becomes available. 4 | P a g e
While recognising that the requirement to produce an overarching Area Plan for the North Eastern Education and Library Board takes full account of cross boundary flow of pupils at points where the North Eastern Education and Library Board borders with another Education and Library Board, the information contained within this area plan has been collated and presented, for convenience, into Central, Northern and Southern clusters of Council areas. It is fully acknowledged that patterns of school attendance extend across and beyond these clusters.
The North Eastern Education and Library Board recognise that it is the managing authority for the controlled sector. Within the context of sound strategic planning to meet the education provision needs of its area, the Board would acknowledge the effective working partnerships between other managing authorities and sectors, which have contributed to the development of the proposals to meet the overall requirements of the Terms of Reference for Area Planning as detailed in this area plan.
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Section 1 Introduction
In his Statement to the Assembly, on 26 September 2011, the Education Minister, John O’Dowd MLA, highlighted the need to move forward with the implementation of the Department of Education’s Sustainable Schools Policy and the process of strategic planning on an area basis.The Minister made it clear that, against the backdrop of an extremely challenging financial landscape in the coming years, progress on reshaping the structure and pattern of education provision could not be delayed. This work is at the core of the raising standards agenda which can only be delivered efficiently and effectively through a network of strong, sustainable schools that command the confidence of the communities they serve. The Minister indicated that, until such times as the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) is established, the existing statutory bodies must work together to deliver a more strategic area-based approach to planning the delivery of education.
1.1 Task
The Minister commissioned the Education and Library Boards, working in close conjunction with CCMS and engaging extensively with other school sectors, to develop collective strategic plans on an area basis. The focus of the work is on developing a planned network of viable and sustainable schools capable of delivering effectively the revised curriculum and the Entitlement Framework and of providing adequate access to a range of educational provision appropriate to the needs of the pupils and young people in an area. It is therefore essential that a broad vision of the type and scale of education provision required to meet the future needs is agreed, encompassing the various models to do so.
1.2 Scope
The exercise covers the provision of all grant-aided primary and post-primary schools of all management types in each of the five Education and Library Board areas. The plan will be produced in three parts; the first part covered Special Schools has already submitted to the Department of Education, the second part (this plan) will focus on post-primary provision, including the delivery of viable 6th form provision and the third part which will focus on primary provision will be submitted to the Department of Education in draft form in due course. 6 | P a g e
Section 2 Context
2.1 Regional Context
The Department of Education’s vision is - “To ensure that every learner fulfils his or her full potential at each stage of development.” All Departmental policies contribute to the delivery of that vision and all have, as a central tenet, the educational well- being of the pupils and young people for whom the education service is designed. It is essential that schooling reflects the needs of the pupils and addresses these needs in the most efficient and effective way possible. This can best be achieved through a network of viable and sustainable schools that are of the right type, the right size, located in the right place and have a focus on raising standards.
The Minister for Education, John O’Dowd MLA, in his statement to the Assembly on 26 September 2011 outlined his plans to move forward with the implementation of the Sustainable Schools Policy and the process of collective, strategic planning of education provision for the primary and post-primary sectors.
In advance of the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority (ESA), the Minister has commissioned the Education and Library Boards (the Boards), working in close conjunction with the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) and actively engaging with the other sectors to undertake the strategic planning of education provision on an area basis. The main focus of this work will be to develop a planned network of viable and sustainable schools capable of delivering high quality education to meet the needs of all the pupils and young people in the area in line with the full suite of DE Policies.
The Boards and CCMS must ensure that this work takes account of the Department’s commitments in the Programme for Government and supports the implementation of, the Departmental policies and reviews, in particular (This list of policies and reviews is not exhaustive):-
The Sustainable Schools policy specifies six criteria and indicators for use in assessing the viability of schools. The focus in on high quality education and maximising the benefits for pupils and young people through the efficient and
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effective use of available resources. This policy will be central to the area planning process.
Every School a Good School (ESaGS) sets out the belief that schools themselves, through honest self-evaluation informed by data, are best placed to identify and address areas for improvement that can bring about better outcomes for pupils. It sets out the characteristics of good schools, which are pupil centred, well led, have high-quality teaching and learning, and good community support.
Count, Read: Succeed is the strategy to improve outcomes in literacy and numeracy. It sets out how teachers are supported to meet the needs of all pupils, by identifying and addressing underachievement through prompt intervention.
The Revised Curriculum, which has literacy and numeracy at its core, puts a greater emphasis on developing the skills pupils need to prepare them for life and work.
Entitlement Framework is the counterbalance to the KS4 curriculum. It offers schools the flexibility to provide access for pupils, based on their needs, aspirations and interests, to a broad, balanced and coherent curriculum with a minimum number of applied courses. It is a key contributor to the overall goal of raising standards and of reducing the levels of educational underachievement that currently exist.
The recommendations in the Report of the Review of Irish Medium Education, in particular Recommendation 21 which advises that the “Department must ensure that Irish-medium education is considered systematically throughout policy development”; and
The Review of Special Educational Needs and Inclusion aims to build on the existing SEN policy framework to develop the capacity of mainstream schools to meet the needs of pupils in their classrooms, within the wider context of provision made in special schools and learning support centres. The policy aims to provide for earlier identification and assessment of need along with more timely interventions by schools and Education and Library Boards.
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This work should also take account of commitments outlined in the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent legislation in relation to Integrated and Irish medium provision. Throughout the process the principles of promoting equality of opportunity and good relations should be adhered to.
The prevailing financial position within education is a challenging one. It is therefore very important that schools’ managing authorities strategically plan to ensure that the education service is efficient and effective and makes the best use of available resources by achieving the maximum possible impact and benefits for pupils. Schools must continue to address the pressures facing them and take necessary action to ensure they live within budget.
2.2 Local Context
The North Eastern Education and Library Board fully endorses the Department of Education’s vision “To ensure that every learner fulfils his or her full potential at each stage of development” and the strategic policies which contribute to the delivery of that vision, which have the educational well-being of the pupils and young people as their core purpose.
The Board considers it essential that the schooling in its area reflects the needs of the pupils and addresses these needs in the most efficient and effective way possible through a network of viable and sustainable schools that are of the right type, the right size, located in the right place and which have a focus on raising standards.
The North Eastern Education and Library Board acknowledges its accountability to the Department of Education in supporting the implementation of a range of Departmental policies, in particular ‘Schools for the Future: A Policy for Sustainable Schools’; ‘Every School a Good School – A Policy for School Improvement’, the introduction and embedding of the revised Northern Ireland Curriculum; Count, Read: Succeed - A Strategy to Improve Outcomes in Literacy and Numeracy; the Review of Irish Medium Education and the Review of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Inclusion.
The Ethos of Entitlement Framework emerged from the work of the Post-Primary Review group and the Costello Report. The aim is to provide pupils with access to
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suitable and relevant learning pathways supported by a broader and more flexible curriculum. While the provision of the full Entitlement Framework at Key Stage 4 and Post-16 is not yet a statutory requirement, post-primary schools have been working towards its implementation. Legislation was brought forward setting interim targets placing a requirement on schools to provide pupils with access to a minimum of 18 courses at Key Stage 4 and a minimum of 21 courses at post-16 by September 2013, rising to 24 and 27 courses respectively by September 2015.
The Entitlement Framework aims to: increase choice from a wider range of general and applied courses to support progression and employment prospects of all pupils; redress issues of access to courses across the geographical and sectoral divides; facilitate the development of courses that match pupil needs and support economic growth; enhance the ability of schools to plan and manage collaborative arrangements for the benefit of all pupils in the local area; build capacity in terms of whole school planning, ensure efficient and effective use of resources within a local area partnership/community and avoid duplication in schools and FE Colleges;
All post-16 proposals within the area plan will be provided in conjunction with the Northern Regional College (NRC). The proposed configuration of post-16 provision will facilitate schools meeting the requirement of the Sustainable School Policy to deliver 80% of the Entitlement Framework within an individual school leaving the potential to maximize the opportunity to build on the well-established working partnerships which Learning Communities have built up with the College. This will facilitate the effective use of resources through ensuring that specialist provision available through NRC is not duplicated in individual schools.
This area plan is submitted following consultation, co-operation and collaboration with all education sector partners, school principals and Boards of Governors The report on the consultation is included as an Annex to this document.
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Section 3 Aims, Objectives and Constraints
3.1 Aim
The overall aim of the plan is:
To identify the need for education provision in the North Eastern Education and Library Board area in the context of and with reference to Department of Education policies and priorities and to identify and analyse potential solutions and make robust recommendations across sectors taking account of the individual sectoral interests.
3.2 Objectives
The objectives of the plan for the North Eastern Education and Library Board area are to:
ensure a network of sustainable schools, within reasonable travelling distance for pupils and capable of delivering effectively the revised curriculum and, in post-primary schools, the Entitlement Framework; identify and meet the needs of all pupils and young people in the area; enhance the quality of provision and raise standards; reduce the number of surplus places; reduce duplication of provision; identify realistic, innovative and creative solutions to address need, including opportunities for shared schooling on a cross-sectoral basis; maximise the use and sharing of the existing schools estate; identify potential for co-location of mainstream and special schools; take full account of appropriate and relevant FE Sector provision for 14-19 year olds; and explore opportunities for cross board planning.
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3.3 Constraints
The process of Area Based Planning is operating within a number of constraints which are outlined below:
planning is being done in the context of existing provision financial considerations mean that limited capital funding is available to support proposals for the realignment of provision new models of provision, particularly those with a sharing cross-sectoral element, are being developed within the existing legislative framework planning is being conducted within a five Education and Library Board model rather than the single authority of the proposed Education and Skills Authority
3.4 Consultation Process
Details of the extensive consultation carried out by the North Eastern Education and Library Board is outlined in the following sections.
Pre-Consultation
The NEELB Draft Area Plan was developed through engagement between the North Eastern Education and Library Board, school principals, Boards of Governors, the Catholic Council for Maintained Schools, Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education and Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta. The Board also conducted meetings with MLAs, a number of Local Government Councils, Trade Unions (teaching and non-teaching), learning communities and individual schools.
Following the submission of the Viability Audit to the Minister, the North Eastern Education and Library Board engaged in an extensive series of consultation meetings with principals and Boards of Governors of 60 post-primary schools, to which colleagues from other managing authorities and sectoral bodies were invited.
Initial meetings were held with principals and chairs of Boards of Governors for all post-primary and Special schools and hosted in three areas of the NEELB i.e. Antrim (31 January 2012), Carrickfergus (1 February 2012) and Bushmills (2 February 2012).
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The purpose of these meetings was to provide a general overview of and information on the process of area based planning and to outline the Viability Audit of schools. Invitations were extended to all sectors resulting in 101 people attending from schools including representatives from the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education and the Northern Regional College.
A second series of meetings were subsequently held, the purpose of which was to outline in detail the challenges facing the education sector and to initiate a process of consultation with key stakeholders. These meetings were held in Antrim (6 February 2012), Coleraine (8 February 2012) and Glengormley (9 February 2012). 133 people attended from 45 schools and colleges including representatives from other sectoral bodies.
Schools were invited to consider the outcomes of the Viability Audit and either individually or as Learning Communities submit any options that they would wish to be considered as the area plan was being prepared.
Early Action
The Terms of Reference for Area Based Planning which were issued by the Department of Education on 15 December 2011 indicated that where there were issues arising from the Viability Audit and/or Formal Intervention which were affecting the educational experience of young people, the managing authority was expected to address any such issues ahead of the main area based planning process to secure the education for those young people currently attending relevant schools. In light of this the North Eastern Education and Library Board, in January 2012, authorised officers to bring forward proposals for the strategic provision of education in three areas of the Board.
During March and April 2012 the Board carried out a review of provision at Garvagh High School, which led to a process of statutory consultation including meetings with Governors, staff, parents and pupils. The outcome of this consultation was the decision by the Education Minister on 1 October 2012, to approve the Development Proposal that Garvagh High School will close with effect from 31 August 2013 or as soon possible thereafter.
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In June 2012 the Board initiated consultation on post-primary provision in 3 of its areas namely, Antrim/Ballymena, Coleraine and Newtownabbey. Briefing meetings were held for principals and chairs of Boards of Governors, teaching and non- teaching unions and the press on 30th and 31st May 2012. This consultation proceeded in parallel with the wider public consultation, closing on 26 October 2012.
Public Consultation
During the period 5 July to 26 October 2012, respondents were invited to submit their views by using a range of approaches. These included:
Completion of the on-line Survey – www.puttingpupilsfirst.com; Hard copy submissions of the on-line survey; By letter or submission; By completion of the NEELB’s web-download ‘Putting Pupils First – Shaping Our Future’ (Early Action areas).
In addition, Board Officers attended meetings with school communities including Boards of Governors, parents and meetings of senior managers to further clarify options outlined in the plan and discuss concerns.
Young People’s Consultation
The Board also provided an opportunity for young people to consider the options for post-primary provision within their area in a face-to-face meeting. Students were given a range of open and closed questions to respond to using Quizdom, an electronic response system. This was followed by small group discussions.
This student consultation took place on 16 October 2012 and overall 56 young people representing all the Youth Councils from within the nine council areas of the Board participated. At the end of this consultation exercise, Board officers who facilitated the session, encouraged the participants to respond to the consultation documentation at www.puttingpupilsfirst
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3.5 The Process for Taking Forward the Proposals
Following publication of the area plan the Board will continue to liaise with school principals, Boards of Governors, the Catholic Council for Maintained Schools, Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, Boards of Governors of Voluntary Grammar Schools and Grant Maintained Integrated Schools, and the Department of Education to bring about the necessary actions as proposed in the plan. This will involve further consultation between all stakeholders at local level with any recommendations for change in the nature of provision being subject to the statutory Development Proposal process.
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Section 4 Area Profile
4.1 General Context
The North Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB), established under the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1972, is the Education and Library Authority for the Northern part of the Province. It covers 1442 square miles and has a total population of approximately 422,200 people. It is responsible to the Department of Education for local administration of the Education and School Library Services in the local government Council areas of Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Larne, Magherafelt, Moyle and Newtownabbey (Figure 1)
The NEELB serves a largely rural population located in and around the wider hinterland of the towns of Antrim, Ballymena, Ballycastle, Ballymoney, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Larne, Magherafelt and the Newtownabbey area which includes Glengormley and Monkstown.
Figure 1: The Northern Eastern Education and Library Board Area
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4.2 Roads Infrastructure
The roads infrastructure in NEELB reflects the mixed nature of the area with a motorway, high grade dual carriageway and rural roads network. The current pattern of post-primary schools are located in Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Ballycastle, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Larne, Magherafelt and Newtownabbey and are all accessible through a good road network infrastructure as can be seen from the map in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Map of the NEELB Area Showing the Roads Infrastructure
4.3 Economic Development and Employment
Employment in each of the nine Council areas in NEELB area is ranked as follows, where a rank of 1 is the most deprived Council area, and 26 the least deprived Council area: Newtownabbey (7), Coleraine (13), Ballymena (16), Antrim (18), Magherafelt (21), Carrickfergus (23), Ballymoney (24), Larne (25) and Moyle (26) (source: www.nisra.gov.uk).
The Northern Ireland Executive’s Programme for Government has stated that ‘economic prosperity now and in the future is based on having people with the right
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skills’. A number of targets are therefore included in the Public Sector Agreement targets which relate directly to this, such as ‘ensuring 80% of the working age population are qualified to at least GCSE level or equivalent’.
In its report ‘Forecasting Future Skill Needs in Northern Ireland’ (2009) the Department of Education and Learning estimates that only 1 in 6 jobs for people leaving the education system (or for migrants), will be for people with low qualifications, as compared to 1 in 5 in the past five years. These low qualifications are defined as Level 1 and below of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) i.e. Entry Level Certificate in Adult Literacy, Level 1 NVQ, GCSE Grades D to G Level 1 or other/no qualifications.
At the opposite end of the skills framework (Levels 4 to 8) there is also an identified weakness in the under-representation of graduates in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, retail and hotels and restaurants, with Northern Ireland lagging 10 to 60% behind the UK average for graduates in these sectors. Even with the difficult current economic situation in the UK and in NI, and the weaker outlook in the future compared to the recent past, the economy is still predicted to undergo a change towards more skills based sectors and occupations. The report predicts that the higher skilled NQF proportion of the workforce is forecast to rise from 28% in 2005 to 43% in 2020, whilst the proportion of the population with low qualifications will fall from 29% in 2005 to a predicted 16% in 2020.
Clearly these figures and predictions have direct implications for post–primary education and the need for as many young people as possible to leave school with levels of qualifications at least at level 2 of the NQF, and ideally well beyond that, to drive and contribute to economic development and prosperity.
Economic development within the NEELB area can be enhanced by the development and maintenance of a well-developed network of post-primary schools which in turn helps to sustain and strengthen local communities, including rural communities. Providing the best facilities through well-resourced school buildings can contribute to raised educational standards and enables pupils to fulfil their full potential which will eventually contribute to the wider economy.
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4.4 Social Context
The NOBLE Index 2010 is the most up to date measure of relative deprivation in Northern Ireland. Deprivation is measured at Ward or Super Output Area (SOA) level. Each SOA approximately contains 2000 people and there are 890 Super Output Areas in Northern Ireland. This is compared to a larger ward area of approximately 3100 people and there are 582 wards in Northern Ireland. Within the NOBLE Index there are 7 domains of deprivation at Super Output Area level (SOA). This measure provides a more localised analysis of deprivation in the areas in which schools are located, though not necessarily the areas from which they draw all their pupils.
The NI Multiple Deprivation Area Measure (NIMDM), an overall measure of deprivation, is constructed from 52 different indicators relating to seven weighted types or ‘domains’ of deprivation: Income, Employment, Health, Education, Proximity to Services, Living Environment and Crime & Disorder.
The NIMDM ranks the Council areas covered by the NEELB area as follows (1=most deprived, 26=least deprived): Newtownabbey (8), Moyle (9), Coleraine (10), Ballymena (11), Larne (13), Carrickfergus (14), Antrim (20), Ballymoney (25) and Magherafelt (26). Source: NISRA.
Clearly there are a significant number of areas of multiple deprivation across the NEELB particularly in the Ballymena, Coleraine, Moyle and Newtownabbey Council areas. There are also pockets of educational deprivation across the NEELB area particularly within Super Output Areas in larger towns of Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Larne and Newtownabbey. Table 1 indicates the percentage of the population within each Council area who reside in the most deprived Super Output Areas.
Within each subsequent section of the plan more detailed information about the area that each post-primary school is located in will be presented.
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Table 1: Percentage Of The Population Of Each Council Area Living In The Most Deprived Super Output Areas
Council Area % population living in most deprived SOAs Newtownabbey 13% Coleraine 12% Moyle 12% Ballymena 12% Larne 11% Carrickfergus 10% Antrim 5% Ballymoney 2% Magherafelt 2%
4.5 Current Provision
In 2011/12 32,060 pupils were enrolled in 49 post-primary schools across the NEELB.
18,925 pupils (59%) attend 34 non-selective post-primary schools (2 of which have selective streams at intake), and 13,135 pupils (41%) attend 15 selective post- primary schools.
29,883 pupils (93%) attend 46 co-educational post-primary schools and 2177 pupils (7%) attend 3 single-sex post-primary schools.
Table 2 shows the current pattern of enrolments and capacity for post-primary schools in the Board area.
The demographic trends present the Board with a major challenge of ensuring that its schools remain educationally viable and avoid the inefficiencies arising from excess surplus capacity.
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Table 2: NEELB Post-Primary School Enrolments 2005-2012.
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Table 3: Post-Primary Cross Boundary Flows 2011
Antrim Ballymena Ballymoney Carrickfergus Coleraine Larne Magherafelt Moyle Newtownabbey Ards Armagh Banbridge Belfast Castlereagh Cookstown Craigavon Derry Dungannon Limavady Lisburn Mourne& Newry Down North Omagh Strabane Total In Migration Antrim 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 84 0 0 0 7 0 0 2 0 0 0 73 0 0 0 0 236 Ballymena 824 356 1 27 238 44 25 34 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 1,556 Ballymoney 0 11 0 433 0 2 101 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 547 Carrickfergus 3 0 0 0 387 0 0 176 0 0 1 9 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 579 Coleraine 1 11 463 0 0 99 101 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 183 0 0 0 0 0 865 Larne 1 80 2 52 0 0 254 17 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 409 Magherafelt 492 138 40 1 135 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 954 0 5 3 238 0 0 0 2 14 2,026 Moyle 0 6 339 0 378 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 724 Newtownabbey 307 73 0 496 1 159 0 0 3 0 0 593 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 1,637 Ards 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 112 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 425 0 0 547 Armagh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 62 2 0 1 555 0 236 0 9 118 2 0 0 990 Banbridge 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 118 1 0 0 413 0 0 0 336 182 0 0 0 1,053 Belfast 783 9 1 267 0 26 0 7 1,985 980 5 86 2,792 1 91 3 4 0 4,197 3 627 4 0 11,871 Castlereagh 3 2 0 5 0 0 1 0 3 267 0 2 1,279 0 1 0 0 0 75 0 391 0 0 2,029 Cookstown 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 104 0 0 0 0 6 0 130 Craigavon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 647 95 0 0 2 0 46 0 268 5 0 0 0 1,063 Derry 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 215 1 0 0 0 283 501 Dungannon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 287 1 2 0 484 153 0 0 0 0 0 307 0 1,235 Limavady 0 0 1 0 86 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 379 0 0 0 0 0 1 469 Lisburn 138 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 96 283 12 0 77 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 616 Newry & Mourne 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 208 348 2 0 0 176 0 1 0 19 0 0 0 756 North Down 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 931 0 0 421 91 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1,449 Omagh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 70 0 1 88 0 0 0 0 724 883 Strabane 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 50 57 Total Out Migration 2,556 400 1,205 822 1,060 811 168 488 2,312 2,183 1,268 691 2,615 3,012 1,512 1,470 398 482 637 4,984 309 1,453 369 1,023 32,228
Pupils from DC Studying in other DCs 2,556 400 1,205 822 1,060 811 168 488 2,312 2,183 1,268 691 2,615 3,012 1,512 1,470 398 482 637 4,984 309 1,453 369 1,023 32,228 Pupils from other DCs Studying in DC 236 1,556 547 579 865 409 2,026 724 1,637 547 990 1,053 11,871 2,029 130 1,063 501 1,235 469 616 756 1,449 883 57 32,228 Net Migration -2,320 1,156 -658 -243 -195 -402 1,858 236 -675 -1,636 -278 362 9,256 -983 -1,382 -407 103 753 -168 -4,368 447 -4 514 -966 0 SOURCE: DENI
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The Board recognises that the concept of parental choice results in many pupils travelling across Council boundaries to avail of their education. Table 3 and Figure 3 show the number of pupils of post-primary age living in one Council area, but availing of education in another area. These cross-boundary flows indicate that there is significant inflow to Ballymena and Magherafelt areas, a small inflow to Moyle, significant outflow from Antrim and smaller outflows from the remaining 5 Council areas.
Figure 3: Net NEELB Cross Boundary Flows 2011
In considering the extent of cross boundary flow in some council areas the area plan proposals will be aligned with the potential for efficiencies in transport costs to be realised.
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4.6 The Viability and Sustainability of Schools
The post-primary Viability Audit which was submitted to the Education Minister in January 2012 focused on three of the six criteria listed in Annex A – Criteria and Indicators of the Sustainable Schools Policy document. The audit provided a factual picture at a point in time, of school performance, school enrolments and school finances based on quantifiable and robust data available within the Northern Ireland education system. The indicators did not include statements for which information was unavailable or was likely to be subjective. Additional information was also provided by schools in relation to Entitlement Framework.
The information collated for post-primary schools across all sectors in the NEELB is summarised as follows.
Quality Educational Experience:-
5 out of 34 non-selective post-primary schools have less than 40% of pupils achieving 5A*- C GCSE (3 out of the last 4 years) 9 out of 34 non-selective post-primary schools have less than 25% of pupils achieving 5A*- C GCSE including English and Maths (in both of the last 2 years) 3 out of 15 selective post-primary schools have less than 90% of pupils achieving 7A*- C GCSE (3 out of the last 4 years) 3 out of 15 selective post-primary schools have less than 85% of pupils achieving 7A*- C GCSE including English and Maths (in both of the last 2 years) 3 post-primary schools in the NEELB are in Formal Intervention 4 out of 49 post-primary schools (3 non-selective and 1 selective) are not currently meeting the interim 2013 target for the delivery of Key Stage 4 Entitlement Framework courses 25 out of 49 post-primary schools (16 non-selective and 9 selective) are not currently meeting the 2015 target for the delivery of Key Stage 4 Entitlement Framework courses 20 out of 39 post primary schools (17 non-selective and 3 selective) who offer post-16 courses are not currently meeting the full 2015 target for the delivery of post-16 Entitlement Framework courses
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2 out of 39 post primary schools (both non-selective) who offer post-16 courses are not currently meeting the full 2015 target for the delivery of Post-16 Entitlement Framework courses
Stable Enrolment Trends:-
Of the 49 post-primary schools in the NEELB area, 20 fall below the enrolment threshold of 500 for years 8 - 12, as shown in Table 4.
Table 4: School Enrolment Bands
Enrolment Years 8 -12 Number of Schools Less than 200 pupils 2 200 or more but less than 300 pupils 7 300 or more but less than 400 pupils 4 400 and more but less than 500 pupils 7 500 or more pupils 29
Of the 39 post-primary schools which have a 6th form, 14 fall below the threshold of 100 for 6th form, as shown as Table 5.
Table 5: 6th Form Enrolments
Enrolment 6th Form Number of Schools Less than 40 pupils 1 40 or more but less than 60 pupils 2 60 or more but less than 80 pupils 6 80 and more but less than 100 pupils 5 100 or more pupils 25
Sound Financial Position:-
A total of 19 of the 49 post-primary schools have some form of financial stress:
3 schools at level 1 where their projected deficit is 50% or greater. 16 schools at Level 3 where their projected deficit is greater than 5% or £75,000 and less than 25%; The remaining 30 schools are within the LMS financial limit.
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4.7 NEELB Pupil Population Projections 2011 – 2025
The following Department of Education population projections are derived from the Government Actuary Department (GAD) figures. Table 6 and Figure 4 show the trend for the Board in years 8 to 12 and 6th Form to be an estimated overall increase of 5.75%, or 1855 pupils up to 2025, taking account of cross boundary flows. The increase in projected numbers at post-primary (6th Form) is particularly marked, with a predicted increase of 21% or 273 pupils.
Table 6: NEELB Post - Primary Pupil Population Projections
Figure 4: NEELB Post-Primary Need 2011-2025
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However, the overall estimated increase in post-primary aged pupils across the NEELB area must be set against the variation in anticipated need and the existing surplus capacity within sectors, and in Council areas.
The statistics in relation to anticipated need provided by the Department of Education are grouped in subsets which take account of differing sectors as follows:-
Subset A Includes Controlled Secondary and Grammar schools Includes non-denominational Voluntary Grammar schools Excludes Integrated and Irish-medium Controlled schools Subset B Includes Maintained Secondary schools Includes Catholic Voluntary Grammar schools Includes all Irish-medium schools and Irish-medium units Subset C Includes Grant Maintained Integrated and Controlled Integrated
Table 7: Analysis of Current and Future Enrolments and Capacity in the NEELB
DE Need Projected 2011 Surplus Projections Surplus Subset (DE) School Type (DE) Capacity Enrolment Places (2025) Places (2025) Controlled (selective 15,765 13,316 2,449 & non-selective) Subset A 19,657 1,348 Non-Denominational 5,240 5,232 8 Voluntary Grammar
Maintained 7,465 6,998 467
Catholic Voluntary Subset B 3,310 3,341 -31 11,056 -281 Grammar
Irish Medium 0 0 0
Controlled Integrated 1,135 913 222 Subset C 3,397 -42 Grant Maintained 2,220 2,260 -40 Integrated
NEELB Area Totals 35,135 32,060 3,075 34,110 1,025 Source: DENI Annual School Census
Table 7 shows the current number of surplus places in the post-primary sector to be 3075, and also shows the pattern of under and over provision. The data supports the view that the Board has sufficient overall capacity to facilitate the predicted increase in the number of pupils entering the school system until 2025. However this position will be further analysed within the Central, Northern and Southern area sections of this plan.
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Section 5 NEELB Central Area Profile
5.1 General Context
The Central area of the North Eastern Education and Library Board encompasses the local Council areas of Antrim, Ballymena and Magherafelt.
Post-primary education provision is predominantly clustered in the larger towns of Antrim, Ballymena and Magherafelt with provision also located in the smaller towns of Crumlin, Draperstown, Randalstown, Maghera and in Clady on the outskirts of Portglenone. It is acknowledged that some pupils travel across Council and Education and Library Board boundaries to access post-primary provision.
Figure 5: Map showing Post-Primary Schools within the NEELB Central Area
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5.2 Social Context
Table 8 indicates the Super Output Areas in which the post-primary schools are located. While a number of post-primary schools are located in areas with varying degrees of social, economic and education deprivation, the enrolments will be drawn from a wider catchment area.
In planning localised post-primary provision it will be important for the Board to consider the needs of local communities in addition to the specific educational requirements of schools. A number of schools located in areas of educational deprivation are currently well-positioned to meet the needs and aspirations of local communities, an important factor in considering the sustainability of schools.
Table 8: Central Schools’ Locations within Super Output Areas
Management School Name Borough Super Output NIMDM % Type Council Areas lowest = Education Area most Deprivation deprived lowest = most deprived
CPP Dunclug College Ballymena Dunclug 18 8 GMIPP Slemish College Ballymena Ballykeel 16 9 VGR St Mary's Grammar School Magherafelt Glebe 2 Magherafelt 25 21 MPP St Patrick's College, Magherafelt Maghera 25 27 Maghera CPP Ballee Comm High School Ballymena Harryville 30 29 CPP Cullybackey High School Ballymena Cullybackey 49 38 MPP St Pius X College Magherafelt Town Parks west 54 41 CIPP Parkhall Int College Antrim Springfarm 1 60 42 CGR Antrim Grammar School Antrim Springfarm 1 60 42 VGR St Louis' Grammar School Ballymena Park 73 48 MPP St Colm's High School Magherafelt Tobermore 48 51 CPP Magherafelt High School Magherafelt Town Parks East 1 66 52 MPP St Mary's College Magherafelt Valley 61 63 MPP St Benedict's College Antrim Randalstown 2 70 66 MPP St Patrick's College, B'Mena Ballymena Summerfield 80 68 CIPP Crumlin Int College Antrim Crumlin 1 Antrim 74 72 GMIPP Sperrin Int College Magherafelt Ballymaguigan 70 74 VGR Rainey Endowed School Magherafelt Glebe 1 Magherafelt 89 89 VGR Ballymena Academy Ballymena Academy 77 91
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5.3 Current Provision in the Central Area
In the 2011/12 academic year 13,974 pupils attended 20 post-primary schools in the Central area of the Board (Source: DENI NI School Census).
8,288 pupils attended 14 non-selective post-primary schools – 4 controlled, 2 controlled integrated, 6 maintained and 2 grant maintained integrated;
5,686 pupils attended 6 selective post-primary schools – 2 controlled and 4 voluntary.
Table 9 shows the enrolments over the past 7 years from 2005/06 to 2011/12 in each of the post-primary schools in the Central area. The existing spare capacity is also shown together with the occupancy rate.
The enrolment trends being experienced in some non-selective post-primary schools present the challenge of remaining educationally viable and avoid the inefficiencies arising from excess surplus capacity.
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Table 9: Central Area Post-Primary School Enrolments 2005 – 2012
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Post-16 provision (6th form) is available in both selective and non-selective post-primary schools with the trend showing an overall increase of 4.96%, or 126 pupils, within the past 3 years as shown in Table 10.
Table 10: Central Area 6th Form Enrolments 2009-2012
NEELB Central Area 6th Form Enrolments - 2009/10 - 2011/12 School 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Antrim Grammar 200 197 196 Cullybackey High 47 61 64 Dunclug College 109 87 102 Cambridge House Grammar 222 259 222 St Patrick's College (B'mena) 87 79 106 Slemish Integrated College 122 121 119 Ballymena Academy 310 312 329 St Louis Grammar 242 247 265 Magherafelt High 70 79 81 St Colm's High 73 63 70 St Mary's College 41 59 51 St Patrick's College (Maghera) 347 353 327 St Pius X High 137 146 167 Sperrin Integrated College 65 70 82 Rainey Endowed 187 187 195 St Mary's Convent 279 278 288
Total 2,538 2,598 2,664 Source: DENI Annual School Census In addition, 382 pupils attended three Special Schools – one in each of the larger towns of Antrim, Ballymena and Magherafelt, and 41 pupils attend three Learning Support Centres in Ballymena, Magherafelt and Maghera (Table 11).
Table 11: Enrolments in Central Area Special Schools and Learning Support Centres 2005-2012
Key 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Stage Special All 135 127 391 382 367 380 382 Schools Ballee 3 & 4 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 Community HS Magherafelt HS 3&4 24* 23* 18* 16* 22 23 22 St Patrick’s College 3 & 4 20 21 25 24 22 23 19 Maghera
*Maghera HS LSC transferred to Magherafelt HS with the closure of Maghera HS on 31/08/2010
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Figure 6 shows the pattern of cross boundary flow in the Central area. The Department of Education statistics indicate that 2320 pupils resident in the Antrim Council area travel from the Antrim area to receive their education – an outflow of 2320 pupils of post-primary school age. In addition there is a net inflow of 1156 pupils to the Ballymena Council area and a net inflow of 1858 pupils to the Magherafelt Council area to receive their education
Figure 6: Net Cross Boundary Flows within the Central Area
The detailed information contained in Section 4: Table 3 - Post-Primary Cross Boundary Flows 2011 (page 19) illustrates the extent of movement of pupils between Council areas.
Local options for post-primary provision in the Antrim Council area will attempt to address some of the outflow from Antrim and the expected reduction in the inflow to the Ballymena and other Council areas. The Board will also work with other sectors to address the impact of the projected pupil population increase and the inflow to the Magherafelt area
The Antrim Council Area is facing a predicted increase of 310 pupils between 2011 and 2025. When this is considered against the current level of 267 spare places it is anticipated that an additional 43 places may be required.
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5.4 The Viability and Sustainability of Post-Primary Schools in the Central Area
The outcome of the Viability Audit for post-primary schools across all sectors in the Central area of the NEELB is summarised as follows:
Quality Educational Experience:-
1 out of 14 non-selective post-primary schools have less than 40% of pupils achieving 5A*- C GCSE (3 out of the last 4 years) 3 out of 14 non-selective post-primary schools have less than 25% of pupils achieving 5A*- C GCSE including English and Maths (in both of the last 2 years) 1 out of 6 selective post-primary schools has less than 90% of pupils achieving 7A*- C GCSE (3 out of the last 4 years) 1 out of 6 selective post-primary schools has less than 85% of pupils achieving 7A*- C GCSE including English and Maths (in both of the last 2 years) 3 post-primary schools in the Central NEELB Area are in Formal Intervention
Stable Enrolment Trends:-
Of the total of 20 post-primary schools in the North Eastern Education and Library Board area 8 fall below the enrolment threshold of 500 for years 8 to12, as shown in Table 12.
Table 12:School Enrolment Bands
Enrolment Years 8 -12 Number of Schools Less than 200 pupils 0 200 or more but less than 300 pupils 3 300 or more but less than 400 pupils 1 400 and more but less than 500 pupils 4 500 or more pupils 12
Of the total of 16 post-primary schools which have a 6th form 5 fall below the threshold of 100 for a 6th form, as shown in Table 13.
Table 13: 6th Form Enrolments
Enrolment 6th Form Number of Schools Less than 40 pupils 0 40 or more but less than 60 pupils 1 60 or more but less than 80 pupils 2 80 and more but less than 100 pupils 2 100 or more pupils 11
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Sound Financial Position:-
A total of 8 of the 20 post-primary schools have some form of financial stress:
No schools at level 1 where their projected deficit is 50% or greater. No schools at level 2 where their projected deficit is 25% or greater and less than 50%; 8 schools at Level 3 where their projected deficit is greater than 5% or £75,000 and less than 25%; and The remaining 12 schools are within the LMS financial limits.
5.5 Central Area Pupil Population Projections 2011-2025
Table 14 and Figure 7 show the post-primary school age projections for the Central area which indicates an estimated annual decrease until 2017 followed by an estimated yearly increase up to 2025.
The change is estimated as an overall increase of 1570 pupils by 2025. This figure accounts for 85% of the entire projected increase in post-primary pupils for the entire North Eastern Education and Library Board area.
Table 14: Central Post-Primary Population Projections and Estimated Need 2011-2025
Central Area Post-Primary Need Years 8-12 & 6th Form All Controlled (selective and Maintained, non-selective) Catholic Total and Non- Voluntary All Integrated Denominational Grammar and Voluntary Irish Medium Grammar 2011 14,015 5,846 6,002 2,167 2012 13,976 5,827 5,985 2,163 2013 13,951 5,826 5,957 2,170 2014 13,806 5,762 5,893 2,152 2015 13,753 5,736 5,866 2,150 2016 13,751 5,753 5,846 2,152 2017 13,715 5,746 5,822 2,145 2018 13,823 5,792 5,865 2,166 2019 14,130 5,915 5,996 2,218 2020 14,408 6,010 6,137 2,260 2021 14,731 6,142 6,280 2,310 2022 14,982 6,243 6,398 2,341 2023 15,214 6,324 6,512 2,379 2024 15,440 6,418 6,609 2,414 2025 15,585 6,479 6,669 2,437
2011 Capacity 14,635 6,095 6,185 2,355 Source: DENI 35 | P a g e
Figure 7: Central Area Post-Primary Projected Need 2011-2025.
The dashed line in Figure 7 represents the situation if current capacity within the NEELB for all schools were to remain steady.
The projected pattern of 6th form enrolments to 2025 as shown in Figure 8 indicates an increase of 735 pupils.
Figure 8: Central Area Projected 6th Form Enrolments 2011-2025
The trend of a falling and then rising post-primary school population is mirrored in each of the 3 Council areas, with an increase in the Antrim area of 310 pupils, in Ballymena of 558 pupils and in Magherafelt of 702 pupils.
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The Antrim Council Area is facing a predicted increase of 310 pupils between 2011 and 2025. When this is considered against the current level of 267 spare places it is anticipated that an additional 43 places may be required.
Figure 9: Antrim Council Area Post-Primary Need 2011-2025
The Ballymena Council Area is facing a predicted increase of 558 pupils between 2011 and 2025. When this is considered against the current level of 450 spare places it is anticipated that an additional 108 places may be required.
Figure 10: Ballymena Council Area Post-Primary Need 2011-2025
The Magherafelt Council Area is facing a predicted increase of 702 pupils between 2011 and 2025. When this is considered against the current shortfall of 97 places it is anticipated that an additional 799 places may be required.
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The marked projected increase in enrolment in the Magherafelt area requires careful future planning with other sectors and education bodies in order to meet the specific variation in anticipated need within each of the sectors.
Figure 11: Magherafelt Council Area Post-Primary Need 2011-2025
Table 15 indicates how this overall increase pupil numbers by 2025 is reflected in each of the sectors (as defined by DE see Section 4 page 24).
Table15: Analysis of current and future enrolments and capacity in the Central Area
DE Need Projected 2011 Surplus Projections Surplus Subset (DE) School Type (DE) Capacity Enrolment Places (2025) Places (2025) Controlled (selective 4,195 3,902 293 & non-selective) Subset A 6,479 -384 Non-Denominational 1,900 1,922 -22 Voluntary Grammar
Maintained 4,155 3,940 215
Catholic Voluntary Subset B 2,030 2,043 -13 6,669 -484 Grammar
Irish Medium 0 0 0
Controlled Integrated 1,135 913 222 Subset C 2,437 -82 Grant Maintained 1,220 1,254 -34 Integrated
Central Area Totals 14,635 13,974 661 15,585 -950 Source: DENI Annual School Census
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5.6 Future Need in the Central Area
The key challenges in the Central area can be summarised as follows:
The quality of education available to pupils in schools in the process of Formal Intervention Schools unable to meet the requirements of the Entitlement Framework Declining enrolment in non-selective post-primary schools Spare capacity in non-selective post-primary schools Schools with years 8 to 12 below the minimum threshold of 500 Schools with 6th form below the minimum threshold of 100 Schools with projected deficits above the permitted limit of 5% Addressing the impact of current enrolment patterns within the area Provision for young people which in two schools has been declared inadequate by the Department of Education. One school having been the subject of intensive intervention and support over a prolonged period of years, including the School Support Programme on two separate occasions and the current Formal Intervention process within “Every School a Good School - A Policy for School Improvement” Duplication of provision in the selective sector The provision of appropriate education pathways for young people Equitable access to high quality education Supporting young people from areas of social deprivation
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5.7 Proposals for the Structure of Future Provision in the Central Area
The following proposals will address the Department of Education policies specifically in relation to the Entitlement Framework and Sustainable Schools Policy. Where adjustments to school capacity would be required to facilitate the realignment of provision the Board would seek to access the funding to support the refurbishment or extension of current school facilities through the School Enhancement Programme announced by Minister O’Dowd on 25 June 2012.
Antrim
The North Eastern Education and Library Board authorised officers to prioritise this area and to move ahead of the area plan in order to protect the educational interests of young people. A range of options were formulated with all education sector partners, school principals and Boards of Governors, and were subject to public consultation at local level.
40 responses were received: 29 online and 11 written submissions.
Issues emerging from consultation:
The potential impact on any increased enrolment in Antrim Grammar School to other schools. The desire that Parkhall Controlled Integrated College continue as an 11-16 school. The challenges facing Crumlin Controlled Integrated College.
While no consensus was reached on any one option, the responses to the consultation reflect the positive working relationship which has developed among the post-primary schools in the area. The recommendation for post-primary provision in Antrim will continue to provide high quality education for all pupils whilst meeting the demands of parental choice.
Proposals for the Antrim area Antrim Grammar School will continue to be an 11-19 co-educational school (740 pupils). Parkhall Controlled Integrated College will continue to be an 11-16 co-educational school (735 pupils).
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The North Eastern Education and Library Board has authorised Board officers to initiate the process of statutory consultation in December 2012 at Crumlin Integrated College, to include consideration of the potential for the establishment of a shared management school with the Catholic Maintained sector.
The Trustees recommend the establishment of a partnership of three schools: St Louis’ Grammar School (Ballymena), St Patrick’s College (Ballymena) and St Benedict’s (Randalstown), leading to the creation of one 11 -19 Catholic managed post-primary school for the area, with provision being retained in both Ballymena and Randalstown. This proposal will form an integral part of the wider strategic provision for the Ballymena area (1950 pupils).
Ballymena
The North Eastern Education and Library Board authorised officers to prioritise this area and to move ahead of the area plan in order to protect the educational interests of young people. A range of options were formulated with all education sector partners, school principals and Boards of Governors, and were subject to public consultation at local level.
14,218 responses to consultation were received: 580 online, 226 written submissions and 13,412 petitions (from 3 schools).
Issues emerging from consultation Difficulties caused by the current pattern of enrolment Equality of access to grammar school provision The demand for places at Slemish College The rurality of Cullybackey High school The current over provision of school places School performance issues Enrolment at Ballee Community High School and the issue of parental choice Education provision for south Ballymena The demand for places at Ballymena Academy
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The response to the consultation in Ballymena was the largest throughout the Board’s area, bolstered by the huge number of petitions submitted by 3 schools. The proposals for post-primary education provision will aim to secure high quality education for all pupils in the area whilst meeting the demand for parental choice.
Proposals for the Ballymena area Ballymena Academy will continue as an 11-19 Grammar School with its enrolment increasing initially to a maximum enrolment of 1230 pupils from 2014 extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 1375 pupils by the year 2025.
Cambridge House Grammar School will become an 11-19 Bi-Lateral school, (selecting a proportion of its intake on the basis of academic ability) of 1030 pupils up to the year 2014 and will then reduce in stages to a maximum enrolment of 935 pupils.
Slemish College will continue as an 11-19 school with initial growth to an enrolment of 800 pupils from the year 2014, extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 880 pupils by the year 2025.
Cullybackey High School will continue as an 11-19 school with a maximum enrolment of 700 pupils in the year 2014 extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 770 pupils by the year 2025.
Dunclug College will continue as an 11-19 school with a maximum enrolment of 700 pupils in the year 2014 extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 935 pupils by the year 2025.
Ballee Community High School will be considered for closure from 31 August 2014.
The Trustees recommend the establishment of a partnership of three schools: St Louis’ Grammar School, St Patrick’s College and St Benedict’s (Randalstown), leading to the creation of one 11 -19 Catholic managed post-primary school for the area, with provision being retained in both Ballymena and Randalstown. This proposal will form an integral part of the wider strategic provision for the Ballymena area (1950 pupils).
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Magherafelt
2,123 responses to consultation were received - 1854 online, 175 hard copy submissions, and 94 written submissions.
Issues emerging from consultation Significant population growth predicted Consultation indicated strong support for non-denominational Grammar School provision Support for 11-19 provision in the non-grammar sector Support for the maintenance of the Grant Maintained Integrated provision
Proposals for the Magherafelt area:
Magherafelt High School will continue as an 11-19 school with a maximum enrolment of 600 pupils in the year 2014 extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 825 pupils by the year 2025. Rainey Endowed to continue as an 11-19 grammar school (990 pupils). Sperrin College will continue as an 11-19 school with a maximum enrolment of 500 pupils in the year 2014, extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 600 pupils by the year 2025.
The Trustees propose that St. Mary’s Grammar School and St. Pius X College will jointly collaborate in a three year development plan for 2012 – 2015 that would build further effective and efficient links in the areas of curriculum, staffing, pastoral care, resources and funding, the implementation of further efficiencies and other joint issues contingent to the development of high quality post-primary education fit for all the young people in the Magherafelt area, so that they can develop their full uniqueness and potential. In 2015 this work will be subject to a full review by the trustees, principals, and governors with a view to the implementation of an agreed solution in the Magherafelt area (1800-1900 pupils).
Future capital planning for Catholic maintained post-primary provision should be based on a three school model located in (i) Clady/Kilrea (ii) Draperstown and (iii) Maghera. The Trustees request that CCMS begin the process leading to consultation on the proposed amalgamation of St Mary’s College (Clady) and St Paul’s College (Kilrea) by September
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2014, or as soon as possible thereafter, with the new college operating on the existing two sites (2,300 pupils).
CCMS will conduct a review of alternative models for efficient and sustainable post-16 provision for the South Derry area, taking into account proposed developments and the potential contribution of adjoining areas in particular Magherafelt, and the North Derry/Glendermott area.
The Board has noted that a Development Proposal for the development of provision for Irish Medium Post-Primary Education in Maghera was published in February 2012.
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Section 6 NEELB Northern Area
6.1 General Context
The Northern area of the North Eastern Education and Library Board encompasses the local Council areas of Coleraine, Ballymoney and Moyle.
Post-primary education provision is predominantly clustered in the larger towns of Coleraine, Ballymoney and Ballycastle with provision also located in the smaller towns of Garvagh, Kilrea, Portstewart, and Bushmills. It is acknowledged that pupils also travel across Council and Education and Library Board boundaries to access post-primary provision.
Figure 12: Map showing Post-Primary Schools within the NEELB Northern Area
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6.2 Social Context
Table 16 indicates the Super Output Areas in which the post-primary schools are located. While a number of post-primary schools are located in areas with varying degrees of social, economic and education deprivation, the enrolments will be drawn from a wider catchment area.
In planning local post-primary provision it will be important for the Board to consider the needs of local communities in addition to the specific educational requirements of schools themselves. In line with the Sustainable Schools Policy a number of schools located in areas of educational deprivation are currently well-placed to meet the needs and aspirations of local communities.
Table 16: Northern Schools’ Locations within Super Output Areas
Management School Name Borough Super Output Areas NIMDM % Type Council lowest = Education Area most Deprivation deprived lowest = most deprived
CPP Dunluce School Moyle Ballylough & Bushmills 24 16 GMIPP North Coast Int College Coleraine Ballysally 2 41 21 CPP Ballymoney High School Ballymoney Fairhill 42 33 MPP Cross & Passion College Moyle Glentaisie & Kinbane 26 40 VGR Dominican College Coleraine Portstewart 34 40 CPP Garvagh High School Coleraine Garvagh 39 42 MPP St Paul's College Coleraine Kilrea 46 53 MPP Our Lady of Lourdes High Ballymoney Route 35 60 School VGR Dalriada School Ballymoney Route 35 60 CGR Coleraine High School Coleraine Mount Sandel 72 68 CPP Ballycastle High School Moyle Bonamargy Rathlin & 47 82 Glenshesk MPP St Joseph's College Coleraine Mount Sandel 72 86 CPP Coleraine College Coleraine Waterside 88 86 VGR Coleraine Acad. Inst. Coleraine Waterside 88 86 VGR Loreto College Coleraine Waterside 88 86
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6.3 Current Provision in the Northern Area
In the 2011-2012 academic year 7,609 pupils attended 15 post-primary schools in the Northern area of the Board (Source DENI N.I. School Census).
3,872 pupils attended 10 non-selective post-primary schools – 5 controlled, 4 maintained and 1 grant-maintained integrated;
3,737 pupils attended 5 selective post-primary schools – 1 controlled and 4 voluntary
Table 17 shows the enrolments over the past 7 years from 2005/06 to 2011/12 in each of the post-primary schools in the Northern area. The existing spare capacity is also shown together with the occupancy rate.
The enrolment trends being experienced in some non-selective post-primary schools present the challenge of remaining educationally viable and avoid the inefficiencies arising from surplus capacity.
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Table 17: Northern Area Post-Primary School Enrolments 2005 – 2012
Physical School Council Spare Occupancy School Capacity Type Area 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 Capacity Rate
Ballymoney High 670 CS Ballymoney 689 690 674 674 626 627 611 59 91% Coleraine College 600 CS Coleraine 500 439 367 334 280 275 223 377 37% Garvagh 350 CS Coleraine 178 165 153 148 141 120 93 257 27% Ballycastle 460 CS Moyle 344 336 337 341 345 365 359 101 78% Dunluce 550 CS Moyle 488 489 476 500 482 488 499 51 91% Coleraine High 800 CG Coleraine 797 806 799 797 792 813 803 -3 100% Dalriada 815 VG Ballymoney 849 847 854 851 840 849 858 -43 105% Coleraine Acad Inst 870 VG Coleraine 632 650 651 673 711 760 778 92 89%
Our Lady of Lourdes High 400 MS Ballymoney 202 176 181 187 190 188 200 200 50% St Joseph's High 490 MS Coleraine 365 365 341 350 348 362 350 140 71% St Paul's College 270 MS Coleraine 274 288 277 309 308 328 317 -47 117% Cross & Passion College 720 MS Moyle 711 732 736 751 749 770 766 -46 106% Dominican College 480 VG Coleraine 478 483 478 472 484 491 500 -20 104% Loreto College 800 VG Coleraine 786 781 782 790 792 796 798 2 100%
North Coast 500 GMI Coleraine 512 522 503 478 475 494 454 46 91%
St Aloysius' High Amalgamated MS Moyle 114 94 67 53 0 0 0 0 0%
Totals 8,775 7,919 7,863 7,676 7,708 7,563 7,726 7,609 1,166 87% Source: DENI Annual School Census
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Post-16 provision (6th form) is available in both selective and non-selective post-primary schools with the trend showing an overall increase of 14.8% or 177 pupils, within the past 3 years as shown in Table 18.
Table 18: Northern Area 6th Form Enrolments 2009-2012
NEELB Northern Area 6th Form Enrolments - 2009/10 - 2011/12 School 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Dalriada 214 222 225 Coleraine College 43 41 40 Coleraine High 195 213 208 St Joseph's High 59 68 78 North Coast 71 80 91 Coleraine Acad Inst 128 144 157 Dominican College 118 126 137 Loreto College 191 193 204 Ballycastle 47 68 64 Cross & Passion College 132 150 171
Total 1,198 1,305 1,375 Source: DENI Annual School Census
In addition, 138 pupils attended one Special School and 106 pupils attended three Learning Support Centres in Ballymoney and Coleraine (see Table 19).
Table 19: Northern Area Special School and Learning Support Centre Enrolments 2005-2012
Key 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Stage Sandelford All 144 143 145 144 140 145 138 School Ballymoney 3 & 4 28 29 31 32 33 34 32 High School Coleraine 3 & 4 31 30 32 33 34 29 39 College Our Lady of Lourdes High 3 & 4 25 26 21 24 33 30 35 School
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Figure 13 shows the pattern of cross boundary flow in the Northern area. The GAD statistics indicate that in Ballymoney and Coleraine there is a net migration of 658 and 195 post-primary pupils out of the respective areas to receive their education in other Council areas. There is an inflow of 236 post-primary pupils into the Moyle area.
Figure 13: Net Cross Boundary Flows within the Northern Area
The detailed information contained in Section 4: Table 3 - Post-Primary Cross Boundary Flows 2011 (page 19) illustrates the extent of movement of pupils between Council areas.
Local options for post-primary provision in the Northern area acknowledges the pattern of both outflow and inflow which may be accounted for by the variation in sectoral provision in the main towns of Ballymoney, Coleraine and Ballycastle, and also in the smaller towns of Bushmills and Portstewart.
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6.4 The Viability and Sustainability of Post-Primary Schools in the Northern Area
The outcome of the Viability Audit for post-primary schools across all sectors in the Northern area of the NEELB is summarised as follows:
Quality Education Provision:-
1 out of 10 non-selective post-primary schools have less than 40% of pupils achieving 5A*- C GCSE (3 out of the last 4 years) 2 out of 10 non-selective post-primary schools have less than 25% of pupils achieving 5A*- C GCSE including English and Maths (in both of the last 2 years) 2 out of 5 selective post-primary schools have less than 90% of pupils achieving 7A*- C GCSE (3 out of the last 4 years) 2 out of 5 selective post-primary schools has less than 85% of pupils achieving 7A*- C GCSE including English and Maths (in both of the last 2 years)
Stable Enrolment Trends:-
Of the total of 15 post-primary schools in the Northern area 9 fall below the enrolment threshold of 500 for years 8 to12, as shown in Table 20.
Table 20: School Enrolment Bands
Enrolment Years 8 -12 Number of Schools Less than 200 pupils 2 200 or more but less than 300 pupils 3 300 or more but less than 400 pupils 3 400 and more but less than 500 pupils 1 500 or more pupils 6
Of the 10 post-primary schools which have a 6th form 4 fall below the threshold of 100 for a 6th form, as shown in Table 21.
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Table 21: School Enrolment Bands
Enrolment 6th Form Number of Schools Less than 40 pupils 0 40 or more but less than 60 pupils 1 60 or more but less than 80 pupils 2 80 and more but less than 100 pupils 1 100 or more pupils 6
Sound Financial Position:-
A total of 3 of the 15 post-primary schools have some form of financial stress:
2 schools at level 1 where their projected deficit is 50% or greater. 1 schools at Level 3 where their projected deficit is greater than 5% or £75,000 and less than 25%; and The remaining 12 schools are within the LMS financial limits.
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6.5 Northern Area Pupil Population Projections 2011-2025
Table 22 and Figure 14 show the post-primary school age projections for the Northern area and indicates an estimated annual decrease until 2018 followed by an estimated yearly increase up to 2025.
The change is estimated as an overall increase of approximately 2.7% or 207 pupils by 2025.
Table 22: Northern Post-Primary Population Projections and Estimated Need 2011-2025
Northern Area Post-Primary Need Years 8-12 & 6th Form All Controlled (selective and Maintained, non-selective) Catholic Total and Non- Voluntary All Integrated Denominational Grammar and Voluntary Irish Medium Grammar 2011 7,715 4,295 2,966 454 2012 7,661 4,266 2,945 451 2013 7,579 4,223 2,907 448 2014 7,504 4,190 2,872 442 2015 7,355 4,107 2,816 431 2016 7,253 4,052 2,776 424 2017 7,074 3,955 2,705 413 2018 7,005 3,913 2,684 407 2019 7,153 3,996 2,743 415 2020 7,260 4,054 2,786 419 2021 7,324 4,082 2,823 419 2022 7,352 4,098 2,837 417 2023 7,328 4,080 2,838 410 2024 7,438 4,142 2,880 416 2025 7,508 4,181 2,907 420
2011 Capacity 8,775 5,115 3,160 500 Source: DENI
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Figure 14: Northern Area Post-Primary Projected Need 2011-2025.
The dashed line in Figure 13 represents the situation if current capacity within the Northern area for all schools was to remain steady.
The projected pattern of 6th form enrolments to 2025 as shown in Figure 8 indicates an increase of 262 pupils.
Figure 15: Northern Area 6th Form Projected Need 2011-2025
With a small projected increase in enrolment in the Ballymoney and Moyle Council areas the surplus capacity is less significant across all schools than in the Coleraine Council area which indicates an ongoing decline in the projected enrolment to 2025 and a corresponding increase in spare capacity.
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The Ballymoney Council Area is facing a predicted increase of 34 pupils between 2011 and 2025. When this is considered against the current level of 149 spare places it is anticipated that spare capacity levels may reduce to 115 (Figure 16).
Figure 16: Ballymoney Council Area Post-Primary Projected Need 2011-2025
The Coleraine Council Area is facing a predicted decrease of 250 pupils between 2011 and 2025. When this is considered against the current level of 805 spare places it is anticipated that spare capacity levels may increase to 1,055 (Figure 17)
Figure 17: Coleraine Council Area Post-Primary Projected Need 2011-2025
The Moyle Council Area is facing a predicted increase of 9 pupils between 2011 and 2025. When this is considered against the current level of 106 spare places it is anticipated that spare capacity levels may reduce to 97 (Figure 18)
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Figure 18: Moyle Council Area Post-Primary Projected Need 2011-2025
The marked projected decrease in enrolment in the Northern area requires careful future planning with other sectors and education bodies in order to meet the specific variation in anticipated need within each of the sectors.
Table 23 indicates how this overall increase in pupil numbers by 2025 is reflected in each of the sectors (as defined by DE see Section 4 page 24).
Table 23: Analysis Of Current And Future Enrolments And Capacity In The Northern Area
DE Need Projected 2011 Surplus Projections Surplus Subset (DE) School Type (DE) Capacity Enrolment Places (2025) Places (2025) Controlled (selective 3,430 2,588 842 & non-selective) Subset A 4,181 934 Non-Denominational 1,685 1,636 49 Voluntary Grammar
Maintained 1,880 1,633 247
Catholic Voluntary Subset B 1,280 1,298 -18 2,907 253 Grammar
Irish Medium 0 0 0
Controlled Integrated 0 0 0 Subset C 420 80 Grant Maintained 500 454 46 Integrated
Northern Area Totals 8,775 7,609 1,166 7,508 1,267 Source: DENI Annual School Census
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6.6 Future Need in the Northern Area
The key challenges in the Northern area can be summarised as follows:
Schools unable to meet the requirements of the Entitlement Framework Declining and low enrolment in non-selective post-primary schools Spare capacity in non-selective post-primary schools Schools with years 8 to 12 below the minimum threshold of 500 Schools with 6th form below the minimum threshold of 100 Projected deficits above the permitted limit of 5% Patterns of enrolment Significant demographic downturn in school age population Duplication of provision in the selective sector The provision of appropriate education pathways for young people Equitable access to high quality education Supporting young people from areas of social deprivation
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6.7 Proposals for Structure of Future Provision in the Northern Area
The following proposals will address the Department of Education policies specifically in relation to the Entitlement Framework and Sustainable Schools Policy. Where adjustments to school capacity would be required to facilitate the realignment of provision the Board would seek to access the funding to support the refurbishment or extension of current school facilities through the School Enhancement Programme announced by Minister O’Dowd on 25 June 2012.
Ballymoney
85 responses to consultation were received - 78 online and 7 written submissions.
Issues emerging from consultation:
Consultation did not provide a basis for movement to a shared school provision Concerns regarding split site provision
No consensus was identified in response to the options under consideration, specifically the movement towards a shared school provision. The final proposals for post-primary education in the area will acknowledge support for the existing schools while addressing the Terms of Reference with regard to sustainability.
Proposals for the Ballymoney area Ballymoney High School will develop as an 11-19 school (753 pupils) Dalriada Grammar School will continue as an 11-19 school (897 pupils)
CCMS to work pro-actively with the NEELB to explore and establish the potential for an effective shared management and partnership model which would maximize the opportunities for Our Lady of Lourdes High school to continue as an integral part of post-primary provision in Ballymoney.
Coleraine
The North Eastern Education and Library Board authorised officers to prioritise this area and to move ahead of the area plan in order to protect the educational interests of young people. The options for consideration for this area were formulated following consultation
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with all education sector partners, school principals and Boards of Governors, and were subject to public consultation at local level.
258 responses were received - 211 online and 47 written submissions
Issues emerging from consultation:
The impact of current patterns of enrolment The response to consultation indicating the need for Grammar school provision; The need to address issues confronting Coleraine College The position of Grant Maintained Integrated provision The predicted demographic trends The complexity of the various school management types involved The rural nature of provision at Dunluce School The need for new build schools to facilitate change
No consensus emerged from the response to the consultation in the Coleraine area. The wide range of opinion with regard to the future is reflective of the plethora of management types in the area and the challenges being faced in an area of significant demographic decline. The proposals for post-primary education provision will continue to provide high quality education for all pupils in the area whilst meeting the demand for parental choice.
Proposals for the Coleraine area
Coleraine Academical Institution and Coleraine High School will combine to create two separate co-educational schools under the same school names and management types. One school will select its pupils by academic ability and will have a maximum enrolment of 990 pupils by the year 2025 with the other school non selective with a maximum enrolment of 1210 pupils by the year 2025.
North Coast Integrated College will continue as an 11-19 school with a maximum enrolment by the year 2025 of 550 pupils.
Dunluce School will continue as an 11-16 school with a maximum enrolment of 550 pupils by the year 2025.
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Coleraine College will be considered for closure.
The Board wishes to signal the pivotal need for the provision of new school buildings to support the development of the two new co-educational schools contained in this proposal, given the current condition of the estate and the single sex nature of its provision.
Loreto College, Dominican College and St Joseph’s High School to be part of the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education’s Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portstewart project recommending that there be two 11-19 Catholic managed post- primary schools, one in Coleraine and one in Portstewart.
St. Paul’s College (Kilrea) to be part of the South Derry project.
During March and April 2012 the Board carried out a review of provision at Garvagh High School, which led to a process of statutory consultation including meetings with Governors, staff, parents and pupils. The outcome of this consultation was the decision on 1 October 2012 by the Education Minister to approve the Development Proposal that Garvagh High School will close with effect from 31 August 2013 or as soon possible thereafter.
Moyle
29 responses were received - 13 online and 16 written submissions.
Issues emerging from consultation:
The consultation indicated a strong desire to build on the positive working relationship between the two post-primary schools. The need to build and develop the partnership and to seek a new build facility to accommodate both schools and to provide shared resources.
The response to consultation reflects the long-standing positive working relationship which has developed between the two non-selective post-primary schools. The proposals for the post-primary education in area will be largely based on the joint submission at local level
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which will continue to provide high quality education for all the pupils whilst meeting the demands of parental choice.
Proposals for the Moyle area
Ballycastle High School to continue as an 11-19 school (550 pupils) Cross and Passion College which is to continue as an 11-19 school (770 pupils)
(Schools would work together while maintaining individual Governance)
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Section 7: NEELB Southern Area
7.1 General Context
The Southern area of the NEELB encompasses the local Council areas of Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey.
Post-primary education provision is predominantly clustered in the towns of Carrickfergus and Larne, and in the greater Newtownabbey area which includes Ballyclare, Monkstown and Glengormley. It is acknowledged that some pupils travel across Council and Education and Library Board boundaries to access post-primary provision.
Figure 19: Map showing Post-Primary Schools within the NEELB Southern Area
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7.2 Social Context
Table 24 shows the Super Output areas in the Southern area in which the post-primary schools are located. While a number of post-primary schools are located in areas with varying degrees of social, economic and education deprivation, the enrolments will be drawn from a wider catchment area.
In planning localised post-primary provision it will be important for the Board to consider the needs of local communities in addition to the specific educational requirements of schools themselves. A number of schools located in areas of educational deprivation are currently well-positioned to meet the needs and aspirations of local communities.
Table 24: Southern Schools’ Locations within Super Output Areas
Management School Name Borough Super Output NIMDM % Type Council Area Areas lowest = Education most Deprivatio deprived n lowest = most deprived VGR Larne Grammar Larne Antiville 14 11 CPP Newtownabbey CHS Newtownabbey Whitehouse 17 24 CPP Ballyclare Secondary Newtownabbey Ballyclare South 1 25 29 CGR Ballyclare High School Newtownabbey Ballyclare South 1 25 29 CPP Larne High School Larne Town Parks 44 30 MPP St Killian's College Larne Carnlough 33 36 CPP Glengormley High Newtownabbey Ballyhenry 2 43 43 School GMIPP Ulidia Int College Carrickfergus Victoria 58 51 Carrickfergus CPP Monkstown Comm Newtownabbey Jordanstown 1 81 63 School MPP Edmund Rice College Newtownabbey Mallusk 2 88 76 CPP Carrickfergus College Carrickfergus Burleigh Hill 91 79 CPP Downshire School Carrickfergus Bluefield 1 98 79 CGR Carrickfergus Grammar Carrickfergus Burleigh Hill 2 91 79 VGR Belfast High School Newtownabbey Rosstulla 2 99 97
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7.3 Current Provision in the Southern Area
In the 2011/12 academic year 10,477 pupils attended 14 post-primary schools in the Southern area of the Board (Source: DENI NI School Census).
6765 pupils attended 10 non-selective post-primary schools – 7 controlled, 2 maintained and 1 grant maintained integrated.
3712 pupils attended 4 selective post-primary schools – 2 controlled and 2 voluntary.
Table 25 shows the enrolments over the past 7 years from 2005/06 to 2011/12 in each of the post-primary schools in the Southern area. The existing spare capacity is also shown together with the occupancy rate.
The enrolment trends being experienced in a number of non-selective post-primary schools present the challenge of remaining educationally viable and avoid the inefficiencies arising from excess surplus capacity.
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Table 25: Southern Area Post-Primary School Enrolments 2005 – 2012
Physical School Council Spare Occupancy School Capacity Type Area 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 Capacity Rate
Carrickfergus College 900 CS Carrickfergus 753 787 794 794 746 716 685 215 76% Downshire 800 CS Carrickfergus 831 799 806 781 796 800 782 18 98% Larne High 750 CS Larne 576 531 489 503 487 489 487 263 65% Ballyclare Secondary 960 CS Newtownabbey 1,013 1,017 1,002 1,016 1,016 1,009 1,030 -70 107% Glengormley High 1,250 CS Newtownabbey 1,131 1,110 1,068 1,062 1,019 984 943 307 75% Monkstown Community High 820 CS Newtownabbey 680 712 669 681 684 683 631 189 77% Newtownabbey Community High 650 CS Newtownabbey 393 302 229 227 240 229 230 420 35% Carrickfergus Grammar 800 CG Carrickfergus 801 804 801 798 804 808 816 -16 102% Ballyclare High 1,210 CG Newtownabbey 1,215 1,219 1,217 1,213 1,225 1,222 1,222 -12 101% Larne Grammar 725 VG Larne 741 729 721 734 723 729 741 -16 102% Belfast High 930 VG Newtownabbey 919 927 931 930 927 929 933 -3 100%
St Killian's College 830 MS Larne 0 0 0 0 805 824 829 1 100% Edmund Rice College 600 MS Newtownabbey 560 531 544 588 627 617 596 4 99%
Ulidia Integrated College 500 GMI Carrickfergus 526 532 532 537 534 536 552 -52 110%
St Comgall's College Amalgamated MS Larne 215 198 181 164 0 0 0 0 0% St MacNissi's Grammar Amalgamated MS Larne 591 597 597 601 0 0 0 0 0% Totals 11,725 10,945 10,795 10,581 10,629 10,633 10,575 10,477 1,248 89% Source: DENI Annual School Census
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Post-16 provision (6th Form) is available in both selective and non-selective post-primary schools with the trend showing an overall increase of 110 pupils (6%) within the past 3 years as shown in Table 26.
Table 26: Southern Area 6th Form Enrolments 2009-2012
NEELB Southern Area 6th Form Enrolments - 2009/10 - 2011/12 School 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Carrickfergus College 88 99 129 Downshire 72 75 74 Carrickfergus Grammar 204 201 217 Ulidia Integrated College 82 78 86 Larne High 74 82 63 St Killian's College 179 174 169 Larne Grammar 178 182 193 Ballyclare Secondary 108 119 135 Glengormley High 172 218 241 Monkstown Community High 30 31 23 Edmund Rice College 117 80 87 Ballyclare High 295 292 295 Belfast High 237 239 234
Total 1,836 1,870 1,946 Source: DENI Annual School Census
In addition, a total of 537 of pupils attended 5 Special Schools: (one in Larne and 4 in the Newtownabbey area) and three Learning Support Centres in Larne and the Newtownabbey area, as shown in Table 27.
Table 27: Enrolments in Special Schools and Learning Support Centres in the Southern Area of the NEELB 2005-2012
Key 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Stage Special Schools All 482 491 476 470 485 476 487
Larne HS 3 & 4 16 23 20 21 24 23 19 Monkstown 3 & 4 20 17 23 28 32 27 23 Community HS
Glengormley HS 3 & 4 0 4 4 4 4 10 8
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Figure 20 shows the pattern of cross boundary flow in the Southern area. The GAD statistics indicate that there is an net outflow of 1320 post-primary pupils from the three Council areas: net outflow of 243 from the Carrickfergus area, net outflow of 402 from the Larne area and net outflow of 675 from the Newtownabbey area.
Figure 20: Net Cross Boundary Flows within the Southern Area
The detailed information contained in Section 4:Table 3 - Post-Primary Cross Boundary Flows 2011 (page 19) illustrates the extent of movement of pupils between Council areas.
Local options for post-primary provision in the Southern area acknowledge the pattern of both outflow and inflow which may be accounted for by the variation in sectoral provision in the main towns of Carrickfergus, Larne and in the Newtownabbey area.
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7.4 The Viability and Sustainability of Post-Primary Schools in the Southern Area
The outcome of the Viability Audit for post-primary schools across all sectors in the Southern area of the NEELB is summarised as follows:
Quality Educational Experience:-
3 out of 10 non-selective post-primary schools have less than 40% of pupils achieving 5A*- C GCSE (3 out of the last 4 years) 4 out of 10 non-selective post-primary schools have less than 25% of pupils achieving 5A*- C GCSE including English and Maths (in both of the last 2 years)
Stable Enrolment Trends:-
Of the 14 post-primary schools in the Southern area 3 fall below the enrolment threshold of 500 for years 8 to12, as shown in Table 28.
Table 28: School Enrolment Bands
Enrolment Years 8 -12 Number of Schools Less than 200 pupils 0 200 or more but less than 300 pupils 1 300 or more but less than 400 pupils 0 400 and more but less than 500 pupils 2 500 or more pupils 11
Of the total of 13 post-primary which have a 6th form 5 fall below the threshold of 100 for a 6th form, as shown in Table 29.
Table 29: 6th Form Enrolments
Enrolment 6th Form Number of Schools Less than 40 pupils 1 40 or more but less than 60 pupils 0 60 or more but less than 80 pupils 2 80 and more but less than 100 pupils 2 100 or more pupils 8
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Sound Financial Position:-
A total of 8 of the 14 post-primary schools have some form of financial stress:
1 school at level 1 where their projected deficit is 50% or greater. No schools at level 2 where their projected deficit is 25% or greater and less than 50%; 7 schools at Level 3 where their projected deficit is greater than 5% or £75,000 and less than 25%; and The remaining 6 schools are within the LMS financial limits.
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7.5 Southern Area Pupil Population Projections 2011-2025
Table 30 and Figure 21 show the post-primary school age projections for the Central area which indicates an estimated annual decrease until 2017 followed by an estimated yearly increase up to 2025.
The change is estimated as an overall increase of approximately 4.7% or 494 pupils by 2025.
Table 30: Southern Post-Primary Population Projections and Estimated Need 2011-2025
Southern Area Post-Primary Need Years 8-12 & 6th Form All Controlled (selective and Maintained, non-selective) Catholic Total and Non- Voluntary All Integrated Denominational Grammar and Voluntary Irish Medium Grammar 2011 10,525 8,548 1,425 552 2012 10,302 8,368 1,397 538 2013 10,094 8,202 1,370 522 2014 9,979 8,110 1,353 515 2015 9,845 8,013 1,324 508 2016 9,834 8,006 1,323 503 2017 9,848 8,027 1,315 506 2018 9,955 8,121 1,328 506 2019 10,113 8,250 1,355 507 2020 10,353 8,451 1,387 517 2021 10,495 8,570 1,408 518 2022 10,645 8,692 1,431 523 2023 10,751 8,781 1,445 527 2024 10,915 8,913 1,466 535 2025 11,019 8,998 1,480 540
2011 Capacity 11,725 9,795 1,430 500 Source: DENI
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Figure 21: Southern Post-Primary Projected Need 2011-2025.
The dashed line in Figure 21 represents the situation if current capacity within the Southern area for all schools were to remain steady.
The projected pattern of 6th form enrolments to 2025 as shown in Figure 22 indicates an increase of 278 pupils.
Figure 22: Central Area 6th Form Projected Need 2011-2025
The trend of a projected declining pupil enrolment up to 2015 followed by an increase from 2017 up to 2025 is mirrored in each of the 3 Council areas. In the Carrickfergus and Larne Council areas the surplus capacity in 2025 is projected to be similar to the current position in 2011.
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The Carrickfergus Council Area is facing a predicted decrease of 119 pupils between 2011 and 2025. When this is considered against the current level of 165 spare places it is anticipated that spare capacity levels may increase to 284.
Figure 23: Carrickfergus Council Area Post-Primary Projected Need 2011-2025
The Larne Council Area is facing a predicted decrease of 28 pupils between 2011 and 2025. When this is considered against the current level of 229 spare places it is anticipated that spare capacity levels may increase to 257.
Figure 24: Larne Council Area Post-Primary Projected Need 2011-2025
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In the Newtownabbey area the current surplus capacity is significant. However following a further projected decline to 2016 there is a marked increase in enrolment of post-primary pupils projected to 2025. If the current level of provision is maintained the surplus capacity at this point is projected to be considerably reduced (see Figure 25).
The Newtownabbey Council Area is facing a predicted increase of 641 pupils between 2011 and 2025. When this is considered against the current level of 806 spare places it is anticipated that spare capacity levels may reduce to 165.
Figure 25: Newtownabbey Council Area Post-Primary Projected Need 2011-2025
The fluctuating enrolment in the Southern area requires careful future planning with other sectors and education bodies in order to meet the specific variation in anticipated need within each of the sectors.
Table 31 indicates how this overall increase pupil numbers by 2025 is reflected in each of the sectors (as defined by DE see Section 4 page 24).
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Table 31: Analysis Of Current And Future Enrolments And Capacity In The Southern Area
DE Need Projected 2011 Surplus Projections Surplus Subset (DE) School Type (DE) Capacity Enrolment Places (2025) Places (2025) Controlled (selective 8,140 6,826 1,314 & non-selective) Subset A 8,999 796 Non-Denominational 1,655 1,674 -19 Voluntary Grammar
Maintained 1,430 1,425 5
Catholic Voluntary Subset B 0 0 0 1,480 -50 Grammar
Irish Medium 0 0 0
Controlled Integrated 0 0 0 Subset C 540 -40 Grant Maintained 500 552 -52 Integrated
Southern Area Totals 11,725 10,477 1,248 11,019 706 Source: DENI Annual School Census
7.6 Future Need in the Southern Area
The key challenges in the Southern area can be summarised as follows:
Schools unable to meet the requirements of the Entitlement Framework Declining enrolment in non-selective post-primary schools Spare capacity in non-selective post-primary schools A school with years 8 to 12 below the minimum threshold of 500 Schools with 6th form below the minimum threshold of 100 A school with a projected deficit above the permitted limit of 5% Addressing the impact of current enrolment patterns within the area Duplication of provision in the non-selective sector The provision of appropriate education pathways for young people Equitable access to high quality education Supporting young people from areas of social deprivation
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7.7 Proposals for Structure of Future Provision in the Southern Area
The following proposals will address the Department of Education policies specifically in relation to the Entitlement Framework and Sustainable Schools Policy. Where adjustments to school capacity would be required to facilitate the realignment of provision the Board would seek to access the funding to support the refurbishment or extension of current school facilities through the School Enhancement Programme announced by Minister O’Dowd on 25 June 2012.
Carrickfergus
293 responses were received - 263 on-line and 30 hard copy and written submissions.
Issues emerging from consultation:
Consultation indicated support for moving to a single Controlled Non-Selective school combining Carrickfergus College and Downshire School Parental demand for places at Ulidia Grant Maintained Integrated School Potential to develop a controlled education new build single campus containing the Grammar School, the combined single Controlled Non Selective School with the additional possibility of including Primary and Special Education provision on this site
The proposals for post-primary provision in the Carrickfergus area will reflect the responses and consensus which emerged from local consultation in supporting the move to a single controlled non-selective school. This will enable all pupils to have access to high quality education whilst meeting the demands of parental choice.
Proposals for the Carrickfergus area
Carrickfergus Grammar School to continue as an 11-19 school (880 pupils). Carrickfergus College and Downshire School to work towards becoming a single controlled school by 2017/18 (1430 pupils). Ulidia College to continue as an 11-19 school (660 pupils).
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Larne
981 responses were received - 978 online and 3 written submissions.
Issues emerging from consultation:
Isolation of the area Impact of current enrolment patterns Consultation indicated a strong desire for the contribution of Grammar School provision Recognition that the town needs two sustainable schools which can work together to meet the needs of young people Need for enhanced Further Education provision
The responses received strongly favour the status quo. The proposals for post-primary provision in the Larne area will reflect the need to provide a range of pathways in order to meet the needs of all pupils while recognising the rurality of the area.
Proposals for the Larne area
Larne Grammar School to continue as an 11-19 school (770 pupils). Larne High School to continue as an 11-19 school (650 pupils). St Killian’s College will continue as an 11-19 co-educational school to serve pupils from the Glens and East Antrim area.
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Newtownabbey
The North Eastern Education and Library Board authorised officers to prioritise this area and to move ahead of the area plan in order to protect the educational interests of young people. A range of options were formulated with all education sector partners, school principals and Boards of Governors, and were subject to public consultation at local level.
981 responses were received - 978 online and 3 written submissions.
Issues emerging from consultation:
Consensus around the option to consolidate controlled non-selective provision into two schools Area contains three already sustainable schools Challenges facing Newtownabbey Community High School
Proposals for the Newtownabbey area
Ballyclare High School will continue as an 11-19 school extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 1331 pupils by the year 2025.
Ballyclare Secondary School will continue as an 11-19 school extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 1100 pupils by the year 2025.
Belfast High School will continue as an 11-19 school extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 1023 pupils by the year 2025.
Glengormley High School will continue as an 11-19 school with the enrolment extending in stages to a maximum of 1650 pupils by the year 2025.
Monkstown Community School and Newtownabbey Community High School will combine to form a single school from 1 September 2014 with an initial maximum enrolment of 1000 pupils which will extend in stages to a maximum enrolment of 1100 pupils by the year 2025. The work of Rostulla School will be closely aligned with the combined school.
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Edmund Rice College serves a large number of pupils who reside in the BELB area and as a consequence planning for this school is closely linked to proposals in the BELB, North Belfast area. The Trustees recommend that there should be four 11-19 Catholic maintained post-primary schools in the North Belfast - Glengormley area, at least two of which should be co-educational with the location of these to be determined following an in-depth review. The review will be completed in the 2012/13 school year. This process will form an integral part of the wider strategic provision in the area.
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Section 8
Summary of Proposals
The NEELB consider that the following proposals currently meet the Terms of Reference for Area Planning and the Sustainable Schools Policy.
However, the Board would acknowledge that school provision exists within a challenging and changing demographic, economic and social climate. In progressing the following proposals, the Board will take full account of updated information in relation to school enrolments, pupil attainment and school finances and will amend plans to reflect changes as local circumstances prevail.
Area Proposal Antrim Antrim Grammar School will continue to be an 11-19 co- educational school (740 pupils). Parkhall Controlled Integrated College will continue to be an 11-16 co-educational school (735 pupils). Review post-primary provision in Crumlin Integrated College St Benedict’s (Randalstown), St Louis’ Grammar School and St Patrick’s College to work in partnership leading to the creation of one 11 -19 Catholic maintained post-primary school for the area. Ballymena Ballymena Academy will continue as an 11-19 Grammar School with its enrolment increasing initially to a maximum enrolment of 1230 pupils from 2014 extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 1375 pupils by the year 2025. Cambridge House Grammar School will become an 11-19 Bi- Lateral school, selecting a proportion of its intake on the basis of academic ability, of 1030 pupils up to the year 2014 and will then reduce in stages to a maximum enrolment of 935 pupils. Slemish College will continue as an 11-19 school with initial growth to an enrolment of 800 pupils from the year 2014, extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 880 by the year 2025. Cullybackey High School will continue as an 11-19 school with a maximum enrolment of 700 pupils in the year 2014 extending in
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Ballymena stages to a maximum enrolment of 770 pupils by the year 2025. (contd) Dunclug College will continue as an 11-19 school with a maximum enrolment of 700 in the year 2014 extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 935 pupils by the year 2025. Ballee Community High School will be considered for closure from 31 August 2014. The Trustees recommend a partnership of three schools: St Louis’ Grammar School, St Patrick’s College and St Benedict’s (Randalstown), leading to the creation of one 11 -19 Catholic maintained post-primary school for the area. This proposal will form an integral part of the wider strategic provision for the Ballymena area.
Magherafelt Magherafelt High School to continue as an 11-19 school (825 pupils). Rainey Endowed to continue as an 11-19 school (990 pupils) Sperrin Integrated College to continue as an 11-19 school (660 pupils). The Trustees request that CCMS begin the process leading to consultation on the proposed amalgamation of St Mary’s College (Clady) and St Paul’s College (Kilrea) by September 2013, with the new college operating on the existing two sites. The Board has published a Development Proposal on behalf of CNaG to establish Irish medium post-primary provision in Maghera.
Ballymoney Ballymoney High School will develop as an 11-19 school (753 pupils). Dalriada Grammar School will continue as an 11-19 school (897 pupils). CCMS wish to work pro-actively with the NEELB to explore and establish the potential for an effective shared management and partnership model which would maximize the opportunities for Our Lady of Lourdes High school to continue as an integral part of post- primary provision in Ballymoney.
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Coleraine Coleraine Academical Institution and Coleraine High School will combine to create two separate co-educational schools under the same school names and management types. One school will select its pupils by academic ability and will have a maximum enrolment of 990 pupils by the year 2025 with the other school non selective with a maximum enrolment of 1210 pupils by the year 2025. North Coast Integrated College will continue as an 11-19 school with a maximum enrolment by the year 2025 of 550 pupils. Dunluce School to continue as an 11-16 (550 pupils). Coleraine College to be considered for closure. The Commission for Catholic Education recommend that there be two 11-19 Catholic maintained post-primary schools, one in Coleraine and one in Portstewart. This proposal will form an integral part of the wider strategic provision in the area.
Moyle Ballycastle High School to continue as an 11-19 school (550 pupils). Cross and Passion College which is to continue as an 11-19 school (770 pupils). Both schools would work together while maintaining individual Governance
Carrickfergus Carrickfergus Grammar School to continue as an 11-19 school (880 pupils). Carrickfergus College and Downshire School to work towards becoming a single controlled school by 2017/18 (1430 pupils). Ulidia College to continue as an 11-19 school (660 pupils).
Larne Larne Grammar School to continue as an 11-19 school (770 pupils). Larne High School to continue as an 11-19 school (650 pupils). St Killian’s College will continue as an 11-19 co-educational school to serve pupils from the Glens and East Antrim area. Newtownabbey Ballyclare High School will continue as an 11-19 school extending
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in stages to a maximum enrolment of 1331 pupils by the year 2025. Ballyclare Secondary School will continue as an 11-19 school extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 1100 pupils by the year 2025. Belfast High School will continue as an 11-19 school extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 1023 pupils by the year 2025. Glengormley High School will continue as an 11-19 school with the enrolment extending in stages to a maximum of 1650 pupils by the year 2025. Monkstown Community School and Newtownabbey Community High School will combine to form a single school from 1 September 2014 with an initial maximum enrolment of 1000 pupils which will extend in stages to a maximum enrolment of 1100 pupils by the year 2025. The work of Rostulla School will be closely aligned with the combined school. The Trustees recommend that there should be four 11-19 Catholic maintained post-primary schools in the North Belfast - Glengormley area, at least two of which should be co-educational with the location of these to be determined following an in-depth review.
The Process for Taking Forward the Proposals
Following the submission of this final post-primary area plan to the Minister, the North Eastern Education and Library Board will continue to prioritise a review of controlled educational provision in the areas of Antrim/Ballymena, Coleraine and Newtownabbey.
In accordance with its statutory obligations the Board will initiate consultation on a range of options in each of these three areas and follow due process in making recommendations to the Minister during the 2012/13 academic year.
Concurrently the Board will continue to liaise with school principals, Boards of Governors, the CCMS, NICIE and CNaG and the Department of Education to bring about the necessary actions as proposed in the area plan.
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Appendix 1: Pre-Consultation Meetings
Governors and Principals (Post-Primary and Special Education) 31 January 2012 – Carrickfergus (Principal and Chairman) – Northern Area 1 February 2012 – Antrim (Principal and Chairman) – Central Area 2 February 2012 – Bushmills (Principal and Chairman) – Southern Area 6 February 2012 – Antrim (Principal and 4 Governors) – Central Area 8 February 2012 – Coleraine (Principal and 4 Governors) – Northern Area 9 February 2012 – Glengormley (Principal and 4 Governors) – Southern Area 30 May 2012 – Antrim (Principal and Chairman from Antrim/Ballymena, Coleraine and Newtownabbey schools)
MLAs and MPs 17 October 2011 – Ballymena Area MLAs and MPs 21 October 2011 – 1 MLA 9 December 2011 – 1 MLA and 1 Councillor 16 March 2012 – MLAs from NEELB area April 2012 - Discussions with local political representatives re. Garvagh High School
District Councils 1 December 2011 – Mayor of Antrim 7 December 2011 – Antrim Borough Council Education Sub-Committee 20 March 2012 – Newtownabbey Borough Council – Full Council
Education Authorities or Bodies CCMS
Regular ongoing contact through the process Specific meetings on:4 November 2011, 18 November 2011, 2 December 2011, 6 January 2012, 27 January 2012, 10 February 2012, 7 March 2012, 22 March 2012, 27 March 2012
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NICIE Meetings with Chief Executive:
6 October 2011 1 November 2011 Chief Executive attended a number of the meetings held with Governors and Principals in January/February 2012 21 March 2012 SEO attended NICIE Schools Conference 24 February 2012
CnaG officers attended a number of the primary seminars for Governors and Principals
Meetings with Schools/Learning Communities 4 November 2011 – Ballymena Academy 5 December 2011 – Antrim Grammar School 16 December 2011 – Ballymoney Learning Community 5 January 2012 – Coleraine Learning Community (3 schools) 18 January 2012 – Carrickfergus Learning Community 20 January 2012 – Parkhall Controlled Integrated College 6 February 2012 – Coleraine College 9 February 2012 – Dunclug College 14 February 2012 – Cullybackey High School 21 February 2012 – Ballymena Learning Community 21 February 2012 – Glengormley High School 21 February 2012 – Coleraine High School and Coleraine Academical Institution 24 February 2012 – Newtownabbey Community High School 27 February 2012 – Garvagh High School (Principal and Chairman) 28 February 2012 – Rainey Endowed and St Mary’s Grammar School 29 February 2012 – Garvagh High School (small group of parents) 1 March 2012 – Straid Primary School 1 March 2012 – Ballymena Learning Community
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1 March 2012 – Garvagh High School (Board of Governors) 2 March 2012 – Crumlin Controlled Integrated College 5 March 2012 – Ballymena Academy and Cambridge House Grammar Schools – Principals and Chairmen 9 March 2012 – Magherafelt Learning Community 12 March 2012 – Garvagh High School – Parents’ Consultation 15 March 2012 – St Mary’s Grammar School and St Pius X College – Principals and Chairmen 20th March 2012 - Garvagh High School - Meetings with representatives of teaching and non-teaching unions 22/23rd March 2012 - Individual meetings with local post-primary school principals in the Garvagh area 2nd April 2012 - Consultation with Garvagh High School pupils.
Principals’ Groups Primary – 18 October 2011 Post-Primary – 17 November 2011 Special – 17 January 2012
Northern Regional College 16 January 2012 – Chief Executive and Directors NRC Officers attended a number of the school consultation meetings
Education and Library Boards There has been on-going contact with officers from the other Education and Library Boards throughout the period during which this plan has been developed to discuss and exchange key information relevant to the planning of provision where there is an cross- board boundary within a sub area.
Key issues relating to cross board planning were discussed face to face with officers from other Boards on 2 December 2011, 6 January 2012, 27 January 2012, 10 February 2012 and 22 March 2012. 85 | P a g e
Appendix 2: Submissions to Consultation on the Draft Area Plan
Submissions have been received from the following schools:
Antrim Grammar School Ballee Community High School Ballymena Learning Together representing Ballymena Academy, Cambridge House Grammar School, Cullybackey High School and Dunclug College Ballycastle High School /Cross & Passion College Ballymoney High School Carrickfergus College Carrickfergus Grammar School Coleraine Academical Institution /Coleraine College/Coleraine High School Crumlin Integrated College Dalriada Downshire School Dunclug College Glengormley High School Larne Grammar School Larne High School Newtownabbey Community High School North Coast Integrated College Northern Regional College – Northern, Central, Southern Areas Our Lady of Lourdes High Parkhall Integrated College Slemish Integrated College Sperrin Integrated College St Pius X College Rainey Endowed Ulidia Integrated College
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Garvagh High School
A total of 160 responses to consultation were received from the following groups:
5 individual members of the Board of Governors 29 parents 7 teaching staff 5 support staff 1 political representative 109 members of the public 4 other organisations
A total of 53 pupils participated in consultation facilitated by the Board regarding the future of their school.
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