MAJOR CHANGES FORCOLERAINE SCHOOLS

COLERAINE Academical Institution and Coleraine High School will combine to create two separate co-educational schools under new proposals announced by the North Eastern Education and Library Board.

The schools will retain their own names and management structures, however one school will select its pupils by academic ability and will have a maximum enrolment of 990 pupils by the year 2025 with the other school non selective with a maximum enrolment of 1,210 pupils, also by 2025.

The proposals were revealed following a meeting of the North Eastern Education and Library Board last Tuesday when its area based planning proposals for the post primary sector were agreed.

The other main proposals are:

* Coleraine College will be considered for closure.

* North Coast Integrated College will continue as an 11-19 school with a maximum enrolment by the year 2025 of 550 pupils.

* Dunluce School will continue as an 11-16 school with a maximum enrolment of 550 pupils by the year 2025.

A statement from the Board said: “The Board wishes to signal the pivotal need for the provision of new school buildings to support the development of the two new co-educational schools contained in this proposal, given the current condition of the estate and the single sex nature of its provision.”

NEELB has been engaging with key stakeholders on since January and received in excess of 24,000 responses to the consultation on the Post Primary Area Based Plan Consultation that took place between July and October.