Dear Madam - I am pleased that our two Unionist MLAs have eventually broken their deafening silence regarding the Collegiate Grammar closure. While some may say that we must not be seen to take sides; I agree. But this matter has already turned in to an ‘us and them’ by no other reason than the desire on the part of those who want to destroy a perfectly good school. TUV remains supportive of Collegiate’s right to co-exist alongside Portora.

What has not been widely highlighted over the past few weeks are the potential job losses within the Collegiate Grammar regarding teachers and staff.

Can those Board of Governors who advocate the closure of Collegiate put their hand on their heart and say this is the right thing to do? Will the finger of blame be permanently point at you saying ‘you were responsible for destroying the Collegiate and causing job losses’?

I note that figures being quoted for the new co-educational school is set at 130 per year; a total of 910 pupils provided pupils stay beyond year 12.

Early leavers from these numbers dismisses the claim that there will be no reduction on the present 1000 places available or indeed the finishing total of both schools.

I suspect that if such a new co-educational school is built in the future, then the students of Devenish College pupils will be pushed in to the then vacant Collegiate. By doing so the Department of Education will claim they have fulfilled their responsibility to provide improved accommodation to Devenish College staff and pupils.

Alex Elliott TUV Fermanagh