PUTTING PUPILS FIRST: SHAPING OUR FUTURE
North Eastern Education and Library Board
Review of Controlled Post Primary Education Provision
in
the Ballymena Area
Consultation Response
March 2013
Introduction
The North-Eastern Education and Library Board is seeking to engage in consultation with the
Boards of Governors, parents and staff of Ballee Community High School, Cambridge House
Grammar School, Cullybackey High School and Dunclug College in relation to the future pattern
of controlled post primary provision in the Ballymena area. Before arriving at the final
recommendation on the nature of future provision, the Board is seeking the views of those most
directly involved at a local level.
Vision
The North Eastern Education and Library Board has, since its inception in 1972, remained
committed to excellence in the delivery of education so that every pupil can realise their
potential and contribute to a caring, inclusive and progressive society.
In striving to realise this aspiration, the Board has aimed to ensure that every pupil has:

access to a broad and balanced curriculum with opportunities to realise his or her
potential;

an education in which the learning outcomes are appropriate to their needs;

access to quality teaching delivered in a caring and supportive environment;

education delivered in modern, well-resourced facilities, suitable for the delivery of
education in the twenty-first century.
Board Position
At the December 2012 meeting of the North Eastern Education and Library Board it was agreed
to initiate consultation with the Boards of Governors, staff, pupils and parents of Ballee
Community High School, Cambridge House Grammar School, Cullybackey High School and
Dunclug College in the context of the future pattern of controlled post primary provision in the
Ballymena area.
Nature of the Board Recommendation
In considering the needs of the Ballymena area, the Board is faced with a number of challenges.
There are 4 controlled post primary schools situated in Ballymena area: Ballee Community High
School, Dunclug College, Cullybackey High School (located in the neighbouring village of
Cullybackey) and Cambridge House Grammar School. The latter is a co-educational selective
controlled post-primary school whose trend in admissions has reflected an increasingly wide
range of abilities of its Year 8 pupils.
Whilst the trend in post primary enrolment in the Ballymena area has shown a decline in
numbers over the past ten years, the overall enrolment in the majority of controlled schools has
remained steady. However the enrolment in Ballee Community High School has continued to
decline and with 230 pupils enrolled in the 2012/13 school year, is below the minimum
threshold in accordance with the Department of Education’s Sustainable Schools Policy. There
are 428 unfilled places in the local area.
In view of the pattern of school enrolment which reflects strong parental support for many of
the schools in the area, the current over provision of school places and the decline in enrolment
at Ballee Community High School, the Board is required to consider the future pattern of
provision in the context of consolidating and securing 11 - 16 and 6th form provision in the
Ballymena area.
Following consultation at local level the Board will make a recommendation on the future of
controlled post primary provision in the area. Any subsequent action will be dependent on this
recommendation.
In considering the situation, the Board is required to ensure that it makes effective use of
resources and having more school places than is necessary ties up resources that could be better
used to improve the overall quality of education in the area. In acknowledging that any decision
to recommend a change in existing provision will create a degree of uncertainty for those
associated with particular school communities it is stressed that, at this stage, no decision has
been made in respect of future provision in the area.
The Board welcomes your comments on the following proposals or any alternative proposals.
 Dunclug College will continue as an 11-19 school with a maximum enrolment of 700
pupils in the year 2014 extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 935 pupils by
the year 2025.
 Cullybackey High School will continue as an 11-19 school with a maximum enrolment
of 700 pupils in the year 2014 extending in stages to a maximum enrolment of 770
pupils by the year 2025.
 Cambridge House Grammar School will become an 11-19 Bi-Lateral school, (selecting a
proportion of its intake on the basis of academic ability) of 1030 pupils in the year
2014 and will then reduce in stages to a maximum enrolment of 935 pupils.
 Ballee Community High School will be considered for closure from 31 August 2014.
Timescale
The North-Eastern Education and Library Board will consider the results of local consultation at
its meeting in May/June 2013. A deputation from the Board of Governors of each of the schools
involved may also choose to attend the Education Committee or the Board.
Publication of a Development Proposal
Should the Board make a recommendation to change the nature of existing educational
provision in the area, it is required to publish a Development Proposal outlining any proposed
changes to the schools. All those affected by the proposal will be notified and will have the
opportunity to make representations expressing their views.
Thank you for responding to this consultation exercise. Your privacy is very important to us
and we will take every step to ensure your confidentiality and the security of your data. We
will not at any time release your personal data to third parties.
NORTH-EASTERN EDUCATION AND LIBRARY BOARD
In considering the needs of the Ballymena area, the Board is faced with a number of challenges.
There are 4 controlled post primary schools situated in Ballymena area: Ballee Community High
School, Dunclug College, Cullybackey High School (located in the neighbouring village of
Cullybackey) and Cambridge House Grammar School. The latter is a co-educational selective
controlled post-primary school whose trend in admissions has reflected an increasingly wide
range of abilities of its Year 8 pupils.
In view of the pattern of school enrolment which reflects strong parental support for many of
the schools in the area, the current over provision of school places and the decline in enrolment
at Ballee Community High School, the Board is required to consider the future pattern of
provision in the context of consolidating and securing 11 - 16 and 6th form provision in the
Ballymena area. The Board, in consulting on this important issue, would welcome your
comments on the following proposals.
Objective: To consolidate and secure 11 - 16 and 6th form provision in the Ballymena area.
It is important to indicate how your response meets the Sustainable Schools Policy requirement
‘that all schools are sustainable in terms of the quality of the educational experience of children,
enrolment trends, financial position, school leadership and management, accessibility, and the
strength of their links to the community.’
Please return this completed questionnaire by 17 May 2013 to:
The North-Eastern Education and Library Board
Schools Branch, County Hall, 182 Galgorm Road, Ballymena, BT42 1HN
Or by email to: schoolconsultation@neelb.org.uk
Name/Signed: ____________________________________
DATE: ___________________
WHICH SCHOOL ARE YOU REPRESENTING?______________________________
☐ GOVERNOR
☐ MEMBER OF TEACHING STAFF
☐ PARENT
☐ MEMBER OF NON-TEACHING STAFF
Do you agree that the proposals will meet the objective of consolidating and securing 11
– 16 and 6th form provision in the Ballymena area?
YES

NO

DON’T KNOW

If you have selected YES please outline why you support the proposals?
If you answered ‘NO’ to the above please outline your proposal and how the objective
could be met in a better way.