O’Dowd approves changes to enrolments at three Newtownards’ Schools

Education Minister, John O’Dowd, has approved Development Proposals to change the enrolments at three Newtownards’ schools.

From 1 September 2016, the approved enrolment number for West Winds Primary School will decrease from 232 to 203 pupils and the admission number at Castle Gardens Primary School will decrease from 87 to 58 bringing the total enrolment at that school to 406 pupils.

Also from 1 September 2016, the admission number at Londonderry Primary School will increase from 53 to 58 and its total enrolment from 368 to 406 pupils.

Commenting on the changes, the Minister said:

“The area planning process helps to ensure that we have the right number of schools, of the right size, in the right places.

“These proposals, which aim to establish a network of controlled schools in Newtownards that are operating with 7, 14 or 21 class bases, make sense educationally and are in the best interests of pupils in the area.  It is clear from the evidence that the demand exists to accommodate the expansion of Londonderry Primary School at this time.

“I wish everyone connected with these schools the very best as they begin to implement these changes.”

Notes to editors: 

1. The Education Authority published Development Proposals No 411 and 413 on 12 November 2015. Development Proposal No 412 was published on 3 December.Development Proposal 411 proposes that the approved enrolment number of West Winds PS should decrease from 232 to 203 and from 1 September 2016, or as soon as possible thereafter.
2. Development Proposal 412 proposes that the admission number of Castle Gardens PS should decrease from 87 to 58 and that its enrolment number should decrease from 420 to 406 on 1 September 2016, or as soon as possible thereafter.
3. Development Proposal No 413 proposes that the admission number of Londonderry PS should increase from 53 to 58 and that its enrolment number should increase from 368 to 406 on 1 September 2016, or as soon as possible thereafter.
4. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours, contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 99 715 440, and your call will be returned.

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