Church wants schools to 'merge'

A predicted drop in pupil numbers is prompting the merger

The Catholic Church has revealed it wants three County Antrim secondary and grammar schools to merge due to a predicted drop in pupil numbers.

Numbers at St Comgall's College, Larne, and St Aloysius' High, Cushendall, have fallen to 239 and 112 respectively.

The prediction is that numbers will drop dramatically in the next decade.

The plan suggested by diocese trustees will see pupils in those areas go to the grammar school, St MacNissi's, whether or not they do the 11-plus.

This move is said to be a response to the falling numbers, but in other areas the Catholic authorities have moved to make academic selection a less divisive issue.

In Strabane in County Tyrone, a school has been created which will take all abilities.

'Preferred option'

A spokesman for the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools said St McNissi's, Garron Tower, was already taking pupils of a wide range of ability.

The solution, if accepted, would make one school more financially viable. All three existing schools have had to reduce staff already because of budget pressure.

Father John McManus of the board of trustees for the Down and Connor diocese said the move was set against the demographic decline.

"There is a projected 16% decline," he said.

"In the Larne area, that is 23% and in the Moyle area it's 9% and in the Ballymena area it's about 5%.

"So it is against that background that this preferred option is being presented.

"This is the establishment of a new 11-18 voluntary school to meet the post-primary needs of all of the children in the Glens and east Antrim area."