Proposals to amalgamate St Paul’s and St Mary’s

The new school would in effect see the amalgamation of St Mary’s College, Clady and St Paul’s College Kilrea - on a site to be determined by a feasibility study.

In light of the proposals Kilrea MLA John Dallat has moved to reassure parents and pupils of St Paul’s in Kilrea that the annoucement should not be a matter for concern.

The MLA said: “St Paul’s College has for many years wanted to increase its enrolment but was prevented from doing so, and as a result many parents and their children were disappointed that they were not allowed to come to this school, which has achieved record-breaking results and has sent its past

pupils into the world with an ethos and a maturity which makes me feel very proud to be part of the rural community it serves.

“The plan for the future is a new school built on the solid foundations of St Paul’s and retaining all its credentials, but with a much wider catchment area and new opportunities to deliver education to its students after 16 at the highest standards,” said Mr Dallat.

“When the feasibility study is complete, I sincerely hope that the promises made to build a new school will be delivered, and it will emulate the wonderful history of St Paul’s which is so much part of this rural community that it has served for the last 46 years.

“This should not be seen as the end but the beginning of a new era, which will build on the past and secure the future.

“In the meantime I would say to parents that this is nothing more than a process, hopefully leading to even greater things for St Paul’s children, and providing security for post-primary education in this area well into the future.”