Lack of disabled access means boy (10) misses school open day

Madeleine Logan • Published 24 Jun 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Why should Fermanagh school children be disadvantaged?

BEN Thompson can play football, dribble a basketball and shoot an arrow, but he can't go to a basic school open day. A complete lack of disabled facilities at Portora Royal School means the wheelchair-bound boy can not visit the campus on Monday alongside his P6 classmates.

The school's headmaster has blamed insufficient funding from the Department of Education for the situation.

Ben, 10, has always dreamed of attending the historic school, following in his father David's footsteps.

For the past six months the Ballinamallard pupil has been preparing for its entrance exam and proudly telling everybody 'I'm going to Portora so I am'.

When he got a letter inviting him to its P6 Open Day on Monday, he excitedly asked: 'Mummy, can I go?',

After contacting the school, Wendy Thompson had to say no. The campus didn't have a disabled toilet or ramps and was inaccessible to students in a wheelchair.

Ben would have to miss out.

Headmaster Neill Morton was apologetic about the situation, saying it highlighted a major issue with school funding in the county.

"This is another situation were the legitimate requirements of a pupil are being denied or hampered by the lack of proper investment in the school estate in Fermanagh," he said.

"Officers from the Department of Education have expressed reluctance to extend the facilities at Portora Royal School as it is understood by them that a new school on the Portora site would be built. Consequently, Portora is without disabled access facilities."

He said the situation should be rectified in the summer, with a disabled toilet and a lift installed in preparation for the new Year 8 intake.

"Unfortunately, until these have been supplied, the school cannot meet the needs of this young pupil who is confined to a wheelchair and needs private facilities," he said.

Ben's Ballinamallard Primary School P6 classroom teacher Carol Elliott said she was taken aback when told the school did not have disabled facilities.

"All the other boys are going to the open day," she said. "It's going to be a fun day."

It is a situation which has disappointed the Thompson family.

"You would think school is one thing he would be fit to do. But Ben's not a boy who will complain. He just gets on with it," Mrs Thompson said.

The P6 pupil will continue to prepare for the Portora entrance exam during the summer.

"It sounds like a really good school," he said.

"I'm a bit sad I can't go to the open day, but them's things. I'll keep studying."

A spokesman for the Department of Education said "The Department has received a proposal from Portora Royal School for the provision of disabled access. The school has been informed that the scheme has been approved in principle.".

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 24 Jun 10

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