'Sort crisis now': education chiefs urged to solve NI school places issue
DUP MLA Peter Weir says given the current pressures there needs to be greater flexibility around decisions and implementation of Temporary Variation applications.
Last updated 22nd May 2018
Education chiefs are being urged to tackle a school places crisis which has left 350 families in limbo across Northern Ireland.
It follows letters sent to parents at the weekend telling them their child had not secured a place in any of their Top Four choices, with some not being given any alternative option.
Now, DUP Education spokesman Peter Weir wants the Department of Education to grant more Temporary Variations, which would allow schools to increase their enrolment figures.
He told Downtown & Cool FM:
"I am deeply concerned at the number of parents across Northern Ireland who have been left with no offer of a school place for their child at any post-primary school.
"While the reasons for this are varied, and not the first time that this has happened, what is particularly worrying is the volume of families who have been left in this predicament.
"An estimated 350 families have been left high and dry. The problem is particularly acute in the Ards and North Down area with at least 70 families impacted in this way.
"While I understand the rationale behind enrolment caps within schools, and the reservations of the Department to grant Temporary Variations, thus ensuring the viability of schools, the procedure has been applied too rigidly. It is failing to recognise practicalities on the ground.
"Given the current pressures there needs to be greater flexibility around decisions and implementation of Temporary Variation applications.
"I am seeking an urgent meeting with Departmental officials to discuss solutions to the current crisis, which places our parents and pupils at the heart of the decisions to be made."
Mr Weir added that if any parents felt they have been wrongly turned down there is an appeal mechanism. And also if there is a particular exceptional case they have their is an exceptional circumstance body.
Many parents have contacted us this week to voice their frustration and anger.
The Education Authority said no-one was available for interview when we phoned, but it released this statement in response:
“EA has processed applications from over 22,000 pupils transferring from P7 to Year 8," .
"Over 86% of pupils have gained places in their first choice school. Overall almost 99% of pupils have been placed.
"Around 300 pupils haven not yet been allocated a Year 8 place. Parents have been notified of available school places for further consideration.
"EA continues to work with schools and parents to ensure all pupils are allocated Year 8 places.”
But Alyson Donnan, whose daugther, Hannah, was refused all four of her choices - says it is completely unacceptable.
They live in Bangor, but in the letter on Saturday, Hannah was turned down from all of her local schools and was instead offered a place in Portaferry.
Alyson said "To even ask a child to travel to Portaferry is completely unacceptable. This is a child that is starting year 8 and won't know anybody. When you've already put down four schools in your local area that should be enough.
"These are children's lifes here. I continue to have a child who has no school to go to in September.
"I will continue to fight this while I've breath in my body. For any parent to watch their child go through this isn't acceptable.
"I wont take the excuses being made or the bureaucracy that we have to go through to get this."