During his speech at the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School prize giving last Thursday evening, chairman of the school’s Board of Governors Mr. Peter Little reported that the progress in the building of the new school has been “painfully slow.”

Mr. Little said: “I said this time last year that one of the biggest challenges that we face is that of operating a school split over two campuses located at either ends of this busy island town. That remains a huge challenge both logistically and financially for this school and will remain so until a new build is completed.”

He continued: “I regret to report that progress on that front is painfully slow. I keep being assured by both the Education Authority and by the Department of Education that a new build school for Enniskillen Royal is a priority and that it is being progressed as quickly as they can.”

Expressing his opinion, Mr. Little added: “It is difficult not to conclude that the very processes of government administration are crippling this project, in common perhaps with so many other projects in Northern Ireland at this time.”

“Have we got a system of regional government and an administration service that is fit for purpose? They are so slow and inefficient in progressing items through their own convoluted administrative systems. I doubt it,” he said.

Highlighting the school's motto “Perstare et Preastare” translated as “to Persevere and to Excel,” Mr. Little announced the school’s recent success of being placed “well within” the top 100 out of 4,200 secondary schools in the Sunday Times’ Parent Power guide to the best secondary schools in the United Kingdom. Noting that 17 Northern Ireland schools in total ranked within the top 100, he commented that this was a “testament to the academic excellence of the Northern Ireland Grammar School system - a system we value and support.”

He continued: “But it is equally worth noting that for selective education to work in the best interests of all, it is vitally important for the secondary schools to flourish as well and that both sectors co-operate to the full. We are fortunate in Fermanagh that this is indeed the case. While we celebrate our success, we also wish the other schools well.”

As well as the “excellence of the academic results,” Mr. Little noted the success and excellence achieved at local, regional, national and international level by the talented pupils of the school in a variety of cultural, artistic, community and sporting fields.

He said: “It is right that we should celebrate these achievements tonight as education here is very much concerned with the whole development of the pupils to enrich their lives and prepare them to be our leaders for tomorrow.”

Mr. Little also took the opportunity to thank his fellow governors for the work that they have undertaken during the year and for all the expertise they have offered to the governance of the school.

Following her report of the school year, Mr. Little thanked Principal Elizabeth Armstrong. He added: “It is marvellous to be able to hear of so many highlights and notable achievements during the last year. We congratulate all the pupils on their successes and the staff for their hard work, energy and devotion in support of the pupils.”

Mr. Little concluded his speech by welcoming the guest speaker for the evening, former editor of the Impartial Reporter Sarah Saunderson.

Along with the members of staff, pupils and their parents, there were a number of notable guests in attendance on the evening including former First Minister Arlene Foster.