THE Parents Action Group (PAG) of St. Mary’s High School, Brollagh have this week commenced a legal process that could see the small post-primary near Belleek transform into an integrated school.
St. Mary’s High School has faced the threat of closure on three occasions in the last 10 years, the most recent being withdrawn by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) at the end of last year.
In a statement released to the Impartial Reporter on Tuesday this week, the Parents Group said it had met with CCMS officials earlier this month and had found no confidence in the education authority’s commitment to a long-term sustainable future for St. Mary’s.
“The Parents Action Group (PAG) of St Marys High School Brollagh, Belleek, have this morning submitted a letter to the school’s Board of Governors and to the education providers, stating their intention to commence the statutory process of transforming St.Mary’s to an integrated school,” said the statement.
“This letter contains the support of over 20 per cent of the parents, the minimum number required to instigate the transformation process.”
The group said it had been researching the option of integrated education for over six months and were now “fully committed to this change in pursuit of maintaining quality post-primary education in West Fermanagh”.
“We see this as a viable and fully sustainable alternative to the current situation and one which we endeavour to see fully implemented.
“Our aim is to work with the school and the Board of Governors to develop this transformation within a timed framework, delivering post-primary education for 11 to 18 year olds.
“We are fully committed to working with all sections of the community to achieve this goal.”
The group said they believed they school had been singled out unfairly for closure repeatedly over the last decade.
“During this period St Mary’s has received no major capital investment, which in our view was a deliberate attempt by those in control of the finances to further run down facilities and resources at St Mary’s in an attempt to discourage  pupils enrolling, hence hasten and contribute to the school’s demise.
“We have ferociously fought against these closure proposals, mainly on the grounds of our location, as nowhere on this island will children have to travel further to attend a post primary school if St.Mary’s was to close.
“This defining factor of travel has been consistently overlooked by the education providers, which is in breach of the Sustainable Schools Policy.
“Regardless of the proposals of closure St.Mary’s continues to lead the way in academic achievements, most notably coming 4th best secondary school in 2017 in NI for GCSE performance. “
The group said the meeting with CCMS on March 12 had been an open one, regarding the long term future of St. Mary’s.
“Sadly their views didn’t match our forward thinking and they couldn’t commit to working with us to secure long-term sustainably at St.  Mary’s,” said the group.
“As a PAG, we are looking forward to working with the school, the Board of Governors and the community on this positive development proposal of Integrated Education, as alternative to the negativity we have had to deal with over the past ten years.
“St Mary’s High School staff and pupils throughout these years of uncertainty have admirably always remained focused, excelling at  teaching and learning and we have no doubt they will continue to do so under this new model of post-primary education.”
Separately, the school found support from the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Koulla Yiasouma recently.
The Commissioner had originally been invited to the school when it was the subject of the latest proposal for closure.
However, after the proposal was withdrawn, the school upheld the invitation, keen to outline to Ms. Yiasouma the benefits of a rural education.
Acting principal, Simon Bradley explained: “The Children’s Commissioner paid a visit to the school last Monday and first met with myself and the chairman of our Board of Governors when she was given a brief history of the school and its threat of closure.
“She then met with a group of pupils and had a good discussion about the benefits of the smaller school. The pupils outlined to her what they feel needs to happen next.
“The school needs some investment,” said Mr. Bradley.
During lunch Ms. Yiasouma had an informal conversation with staff members about the issues the school has faced over the last decade, after which, she met with members of the PAG.
“Whilst she didn’t make any comments in relation to the future of the school, she said she saw the value of rural education during her visit,” said the acting principal, “She said the distances for some of the pupils to get in and out of Enniskillen would be a harsh burden to bear.” Ms. Yiasouma was presented with a piece of Belleek by the school’s Head Boy and Head Girl before the end of visit.