COLLEGIATE Grammar School is seeking clarification on a number of “questions and issues” over its proposed amalgamation with Portora Royal before it moves ahead with putting forward names for an Interim Board of Governors, according to principal, Elizabeth Armstrong.

Last week a spokeswoman for the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) said work had “commenced” on the establishment of the Interim Board of Governors which will be responsible for all decisions relating to any newly formed school.

But speaking to the Impartial Reporter this week ahead of her school’s Open Night for prospective Year 8 pupils, Miss Armstrong said the establishment of any such Board was still a long way off, adding that, as far as she was concerned, it was ‘business as usual’ come the September 2015.

“The Board of Governors of the Collegiate Grammar School have sent to the WELB and the Fermanagh Protestant Board of Education a number of questions and issues on which they require clarification prior to making nominations to the Interim Board of Governors,” Miss Armstrong explained, “To date we await clarification on a significant number of these questions and issues.” During the school’s Open Night on Tuesday, Miss Armstrong reiterated comments made last week that there would be “no changes to the school’s admissions number (70) or the school’s admissions criteria for September 2015”.

“Tonight is first and foremost about letting you see what we as a school offer to you as a prospective pupil and parent,” she said at the Open Night, “This is not the time and place to dwell on the serious issues of area planning but I want to say very clearly to you that we are determined to do everything we can to ensure that the Collegiate and its positive vision for the future will have a role in the community for many years to come.” Principal of Portora Royal, Neill Morton, was also asked to comment on the way ahead for September 2015.

He said: “Regarding this year’s transfer, all conditions and criteria published in the annual WELB handbook remain unchanged.”