DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
25th February 2014
Education Minister, John O’Dowd, has approved a development proposal to increase capacity at Enniskillen Integrated Primary School. The Minister has approved an increase in the school’s admissions number to 56 and overall enrolment to 392, over a seven year period.
Commenting on his decision, the Minister said:
“My Department takes seriously its duty to encourage and facilitate the development of integrated education.
“The evidence presented in this case demonstrates that there is demand for an increase in places in the integrated sector. Enniskillen Integrated Primary School is the only integrated primary school in the area and there is physical capacity on the existing site to extend provision.
“My approval of this proposal provides for an increase in the admission numbers at Enniskillen Integrated Primary School to 56 from September 2014 onwards and an increase in the enrolment numbers to 392, over a seven year period.
“This represents a very substantial increase and I will need to be sure that the numbers materialise to warrant the significant investment required for additional accommodation. On this basis I have asked my officials to review enrolments in the school in two years’ time to ensure that the approved numbers are being met.”
Notes to editors:
1. On 13 March 2013, the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) published Development Proposal (DP) No. 240 at the request of the Board of Governors of Enniskillen Integrated Primary School. This proposed to increase admissions number from 30 to 56 and capacity number from 244 to 392 (14 class-bases) over a period of seven years with effect from 1 September 2013 or as soon as possible thereafter.
2. A new purpose-built eight class-base school and nursery opened in 2007 on the same campus as Erne Integrated College. The school currently has 233 pupils enrolled in P1 to P7 and a further 26 pupils in its nursery unit.
3. The Department of Education’s ‘Education Works’ campaign encourages families to play, talk, read and count with their child and to ‘Get Involved Because Education Works’. The campaign highlights the vital role families can play in helping children do well at school and improve their life chances. Visit http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/education-works for more information. Watch the TV ad on the Department’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/thedeptofeducation
4. View photos from the Department of Education in our collection at http://www.flickr.com/niexecutive
5. Media enquiries to the Department of Education’s Communications Team on Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.
