Councillor Gael Gildernew has expressed serious concerns over what she sees as inadequate local capacity in post-primary schools for children transferring from Roan St. Patrick’s Primary School in Eglish.
Speaking at last Thursday’s (May 28) monthly meeting of Mid Ulster District Council, the Sinn Féin representative for Clogher Valley DEA commented: “I want to raise an issue affecting a number of families in the Eglish area, whose children still do not have an appropriate post-primary school place secured for September.
“A number of children from St. Patrick’s Primary School have gone through the Education Authority’s admissions process but remain without a suitable local placement.
“Families have now been directed towards schools which, while technically available, are simply not practical options due to distance, transport difficulties and other circumstances.
“The nearest available Catholic school places are in Coalisland, Cookstown and Magherafelt. For many families in Eglish, these are not realistic options.
“Parents have been advised that transport assistance may come in the form of a parental payment rather than direct transport provision, but that does not address the real logistical problems families face, particularly where there are younger siblings attending other schools.
“What this situation highlights is a clear and growing pressure on local post-primary provision.
“St. Ciaran’s College in Ballygawley, along with other Catholic schools in the area, has already taken significant additional pupils above normal admission levels in recent years, including more than 30 extra pupils in 2025 alone at St. Ciaran’s, Ballygawley.
“The school has stepped up repeatedly to meet local demand but is now facing clear capacity and resource pressures.
“In 2022, St. Ciaran’s was identified as requiring a capital build project, yet this has still not progressed.
“We now have children being taught in unsuitable accommodation, while other local children cannot secure an appropriate local school place.
“I believe this points to a failure in long-term area planning and forward planning for enrolment growth in this area.
“I would therefore ask that the Council write to the Minister of Education, the Education Authority and CCMS, seeking urgent engagement on local post-primary capacity, admissions pressures, transport provision and the need to properly plan for growing demand in this area.”
