Dear Madam, - The proposed amalgamation of Portora and Collegiate has elicited much information in the press and elsewhere, which was often misleading and confusing. So it was refreshing to read, in last week’s paper, the Collegiate Board of Governors’ advertisement helping to set matters straight.

We now know that Portora’s desire for amalgamation with the Collegiate is driven by a need to increase its numbers in order to meet the Department of Education’s requirement for a new build. The proposal is not after all motivated by altruism and concern for the other schools involved as we had been told! Rather it is a fairly drastic solution to a financial problem. But why is amalgamation the only option on the table? Could there be other means to address Portora’s problem? What a pity that there was not open discussion by the Department of Education, the WELB, and all the schools concerned, with a view to exploring all possible options. An opportunity for open and transparent dialogue has been missed, and the result is unnecessary division and mistrust in the school communities concerned.

There is lack of transparency also, concerning the decision announced by the WELB, that the Fermanagh Protestant Board of Education would be the Trustees of the proposed new school, continuing their current role at Portora. It is not known when this decision was taken and by whom, and it raises concerns that other important decisions may also have been taken without the knowledge of at least one of the parties in the proposed merger.

Not only has the Collegiate community been kept in the dark about decision making about the proposed new amalgamated school, but it has also found it extremely difficult to find out how Portora, its proposed new partner, is administered and managed. Despite repeated inquiry by its representatives, it knows little of Portora’s scheme of management or the functions of its trustees. It will know of course what we all know, that Portora is one of the 400 years old Royal schools, an all male school for almost all its history, with ancient and valued male customs and traditions, including its own Masonic Lodge of which it is very proud, and that it is famous for its sporting and academic records.

But is this enough to allow a proper appreciation of true partnership, should the amalgamation be approved? One could not imagine a business partnership taking place with one of the parties knowing so little of the other.

However the Development Proposals 260, 261 and 262 have been made, and the consultation period ends on July 14. Letters commenting on the proposals should be posted to arrive by July 11, to take account of the Public Holiday. The address to be used is; Area Planning Policy Team, Department of Education, Rathgael House, Balloo Road, Bangor, Co.Down, BT19 7PR.

Yours faithfully, S.A.Stewart