School safe
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Our Lady of Lourdes in Ballymoney.
OUR LADY Of Lourdes High school in Ballymoney have welcomed the proposals that have been made after a report by the NI Commission for Catholic Education.
The report, released on Monday February 13, proposed that Catholic post-primary education in Ballymoney town continues at Our Lady of Lourdes High School as an integral part of the Ballymoney Area Learning Community, alongside the continuation of Dominican College Portstewart and the development of one school in Coleraine.
Ms Eilish Gillan, Acting Principal for Our Lady of Lourdes has welcomed the recommendation, adding: "We are a school which strives for excellence academically and pastorally. In June 2011 the school achieved 93% A*-C 33% above the N Ireland norm, 100% A*-E, and of critical importance in these times when pupil achievement in literacy and numeracy is so vital we achieved 56% A*-C including English and Maths 20% above the NI norm.
"With our Ballymoney neighbours of Ballymoney High School, Dalriada School and the NRC we have already achieved considerable success at KS4 in developing an academic and vocational framework. Now we look forward to building a purposeful Post 16 provision for all the pupils in the Borough.
Recommendations
The recommendations noted in the report are, "There should be two 11-19 schools, one in Coleraine and one in Portstewart.
“In addition the trustees are aware, and supportive, of cross-sectoral work and developments with Our Lady of Lourdes High School and the Ballymoney Area Learning Community.
“They will continue to monitor and evaluate those alongside the work of developing the two school model. The trustees are aware of cross-sectoral proposals in the Coleraine area and will also monitor these developments..."
New opportunities
Chairperson of the Board of Governors at Our Lady of Lourdes, Mr Joe Donaghy said, "This proposal marks a wonderful opportunity for us in the school to build on the present great strengths of Our Lady of Lourdes High School for its long-term future and also for us in the borough to build on the present great strengths of the Ballymoney Area Learning Community for its long-term future."
He continued, "The proposal opens up new opportunities for all the young people of the borough to experience within the borough a continuous and progressive education pathway from 11 - 19 that is fully in line with the requirements of the Department of Education, and one that will be delivered on a shared and interdependent basis as is done very effectively at present at Key Stage 4 between ourselves, Ballymoney High School, Dalriada School and Northern Regional College."
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