PARENTS of post-primary school pupils in Fermanagh are anxiously awaiting a meeting next month which will discuss a potential merger of the four Catholic maintained schools in Enniskillen.
As revealed by the ‘Herald, discussions have been ongoing over a merger of St Michael’s College and St Joseph’s College, and Mount Lourdes Grammar School and St Fanchea’s College.
Parents of the many pupils who will be affected by the proposed changes to the local education sector will find out more about the plans at a public meeting in Enniskillen on Thursday, May 1.
“On behalf of the Trustees of Mount Lourdes Grammar School and St Michael’s College and CCMS, the managing authority for St Fanchea’s College and St Joseph’s College, I would like to invite you to a meeting at 7pm on Thursday 1 May 2025,” a message to parents read.
Set to take place at Mount Lourdes Grammar School, it’s been reported that the public meeting will be the start of “a consultation process” around the proposed merger of the four schools.
“The purpose of this meeting is to present to parents / guardians the proposal for Post-Primary Education in Enniskillen that is being made by the School Trustees and CCMS,” they added.
“This meeting marks the start of a consultation process in which you will be able to participate.”
The ‘Herald understands that St Michael’s College, St Joseph’s College, Mount Lourdes Grammar School and St Fanchea’s College will inform staff of the plans at an earlier meeting.
This is not the first time that a merger between the Catholic maintained schools has been raised.
In 2018, the county’s residents were left up in arms when representatives from the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools held meetings in the county over a potential amalgamation.
The proposal also discussed the possibility of a merger between St Fanchea’s College and Mount Lourdes Grammar School, with St Fanchea’s students at moving to an expanded Mount Lourdes.
Due to a lack of clarity on the terms and conditions of the merger and significant opposition from the community and teaching staff, the decision was taken to not proceed with the amalgamation.
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