Dear Madam, - As the Head Teacher of one of the schools to which he refers in his letter to your Editor, I am duty-bound to reassure your correspondent, Mr Donald Crawford, that far from grammar school places in Fermanagh having been reduced, since 2000 there has been an increasingly greater proportion of children in the county attending grammar schools than ever before. Further, the plans for a coeducational grammar school arising from the amalgamation of the Collegiate Grammar school and Portora Royal School will see a higher proportion of Fermanagh children being offered grammar school palaces than in any other county in Northern Ireland.

When I was honoured by my appointment to the post of Head Teacher at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen in 2002, approximately 50 per cent of the post-primary student population of Fermanagh was educated in grammar schools and 50 per cent in the non-selective controlled sector. Today, 65 per cent are educated in the Collegiate and Portora Royal School and 35 per cent in Devenish College.  The average percentage for all of Northern Ireland of students educated in grammar schools sits at between 43 per cent and 45 per cent.

Portora Royal School and the Collegiate Grammar School are the two smallest 11-18 grammar schools in Northern Ireland. The proposal of the Western Education and Library Board is to enable the amalgamation of these schools to form a new voluntary co-educational grammar school with an enrolment of 900 students. (The average enrolment of secondary schools elsewhere is around 950 students). Parallel to this, the secondary school, Devonish College, in its new build on the Tempo Road, will have an enrolment number of 800 students. These proposals will sustain selective education in the county for generations to come. They will also enable 53 per cent of post-primary students in the non-Catholic sector in Fermanagh to access a grammar school education. As stated, this will be a greater proportion of the school population than in any other county and will still be larger, pro rata, than was the case at the start of the 21st century. On the other hand, Devenish school – which many children from unionist families are proud to attend (something Mr Crawford seems not to have considered) - will be assured of the sort of economic and educational viability which will further support rich educational experiences for students.  And, of course, two healthy, vibrant, confident schools, will find much in common and plenty to share.  As I am sure Mr Crawford can remember, the proposal to amalgamate the schools is not a new one hatched by a Sinn Fein Minister. It was first pursued under Direct Rule and had been submitted to the Direct Rule Minister, Brian Mawhinney, for his determination. He turned it down, although many in the county recognised its value even twenty years ago.  I share Mr Crawford’s concern with what he calls “the brain drain”. Many young people from the county leave to seek further educational and work experiences outside the county. What a wonderful thing it will be to have a £20 million plus investment in the school infrastructure, with a new school for Devenish on the Tempo Road and a new amalgamated grammar school also being built to accommodate 900 students. As well as the huge economic benefits to local businesses and suppliers, the new builds and the new educational facilities have the potential to attract back to the county large numbers of our highly educated and highly skilled young people.

Change is always difficult, but when it is in the interest of the whole community and is aimed at enhancing the resources available to all young people, then it must be embraced.

Yours faithfully, Neill Morton Head Teacher, Portora Royal School