Board recommends Derriaghy Primary School closure

Despite appeals from public representatives and local parents the Board's Commissioners decided to forward the proposal the school should close with effect from 31 August 2011 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Only last Thursday representatives from the school accompanied by Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, Jonathan Craig MLA and Councillor Margaret Tolerton attended a meeting with the SEELB Commissioners where they put forward their case for the retention of the school which has served people in the area from around 1794.

Principal, Mrs Gladys Topping, said closing the school would be the wrong decision and would cause problems for the local community.

She commented: "While they recognised there were social reasons to retain the school they stated they were forwarding the Proposal on educational grounds i.e the small number of children on role."

She continued: "The school is disappointed to learn this is the next step given that the decision has been based on financial reasons and having scant regard for the needs of individuals in the Milltown/ Derriaghy area."

Mrs Topping, who first joined the school in 1992 and became Principal in 2000, said closure would raise a number of serious issues including transport and nursery school provision.

"Many parents and children from this very disadvantaged area would suffer further hardship were they forced to send their children to other schools in the area.

"The nearest controlled school is 1.5 miles down a road with extremely narrow footpaths, difficult terrain and necessitating the crossing of major road Junctions.

"There is no bus link to the nearest controlled school and even were this not the case parents would be unable to use it for financial reasons. Children with Special Needs would struggle in large classes in other schools. Derriaghy Primary works closely with Barnardos, Ascet Service and the NSPCC to address the needs of all the children in the school," she said.

"The SEELB has still not addressed the lack of preschool provision in the Milltown Estate and any closure would exacerbate this issue for the people of the area.

"Already under provided in Derriaghy Ward as a whole parents who have no means of transport rely on the provision under Extended Schools Funding for input for their preschool children. This year 11 children required this important provision. Were the school to close this issue would remain unresolved.

Mr Donaldson said he is disappointed the Commissioners have "gone ahead with the proposal following a strong case being put forward on behalf of the school". "This is devastating news for the community," he said. Mr Donaldson said he still intends to pursue opposition to the proposal.

Mark Black a Community Development worker for Derriaghy Village Community Association hopes local people will show their support for the school to be kept open and object to the proposal. "The school is at the hub of the community and will have significant impact on local families."

A spokesperson for SEELB said a period of at least two months Public Consultation will take place culminating in a Ministerial Decision on the future of the school.

Councillor Craig said he is "deeply disappointed". He commented: "If the school closes it will have huge implications for Derriaghy which is a deprived ward in Lagan Valley. It will rip the heart out of the community."

Councillor Margaret Tolerton said she was devastated by the news. " I thought we had put forward a good case and was quite hopeful the school would not close."