EDUCATION Minister, John O’Dowd will be taken to court next week over his decision to press ahead with an amalgamation between Collegiate Grammar and Portora Royal schools.

Judicial review proceedings were lodged on behalf of a pupil at the the Collegiate in May this year.

Both schools are set to close and a new school established in their place by September next year.

At the time of announcing his decision, Mr. O’Dowd said he had placed focus on the needs of students before institutions.

But a petition organised by the Collegiate’s Action Group against his plans, signed by more than 7,000 people, was handed in at Stormont last November by Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA and former Collegian, Arlene Foster.

The judicial review next week is expected to begin on Monday and last for three days.

The school will be legally represented by solicitor, Peter Bowles and Company Solicitors.

The barrister will be David Dunlop.

He is expected to argue that there was a failure to carry out a proper economic appraisal as well as focus on the impact on pupils possibly having to operate on a split site.

The Fermanagh Protestant Board of Education is expected to be legally represented as a notice party in the case.

Jenny Beattie, secretary for the Collegiate Action Group, told the Impartial Reporter there would be a contingency of support from parents and pupils at the school next week.

“We had great support from the community towards our fundraising event held at the ceili house on Friday night,” she said, “People continue to show huge support towards us. It is greatly appreciated.”