Message from Mr Mc Cann St Patrick's Grammar School

17th Oct 2022

Dear P7 Parent/Guardian,

We were informed by the Trustees on Friday 14 October 2022 that the Development Proposals (DP 604, 605, 606 & 607) to discontinue St. Patrick’s Grammar School and two other schools in the town to form a new school of 1600 pupils were approved by the Minister for Education. The proposed date for this to happen is 1 September 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Regrettably, there is no further information other than the information that has been published on the Department of Education (DE) website (https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/ - follow the ‘Area Planning’ link).

It is important to note that when the new school opens up to 40% of the pupils will be admitted through the use of the Transfer test. As we await clarity surrounding the timescales, I am advising that it is important that all pupils, regardless of which feeder school they attend or where they live, to sit the assessments they have registered for as part of the transfer process in case the timeframe, situation or the process for admission is revised.

I understand that you may have questions that are not answered within this communication and may require greater clarification and detail on a number of pertinent issues. I would ask that you send these to me formally in writing through my PA, Mrs Jenni Reid (jreid156@c2kni.net) and I will endeavour to address any issues that I can and where I cannot do I will ask for further clarification from the Trustees and the Department of Education.

I will do all I can to keep you up to date with developments as they emerge but wanted to reach out in the first instance and share the information that I have.

Yours sincerely

Joe McCann

Principal

St. Patrick’s Grammar School

Downpatrick

Kindest regards

Jenni Reid

Principal’s PA

For and on behalf of

Joe McCann

Principal

St. Patrick’s Grammar School