Department of Education approve expansion of Sperrin Integrated College.
The Department of Education has given a long-awaited boost to the development plans of Sperrin Integrated College and announced the school can expand from September 2020.
The highly successful integrated College has been heavily oversubscribed for many years, first submitting a proposal for an increase in Year 8 enrolment numbers in 2017, however, the decision to enable the school to grow was only made on 3rd January 2020 by the Permanent Secretary Mr Derek Baker.
The development proposal states that, ‘Sperrin Integrated College will increase its admissions number from 80 to 100, with an annual phased increase in the enrolment number from 500 to 600 with effect from 1 September 2020.’
This announcement has followed a series of milestones for the College this year. In August 2019, the academic success of the pupils reached an all-time high with 84% of all pupils achieving grades A*-C in five or more GCSE’s and 75% of A level pupils achieving 3 or more A*-C. Within these outcomes the school acknowledged the high levels of pupil success in English and Mathematics resulting in,79% of all pupils achieving the top grades of A*-C in English and 71% of all pupils achieving A*-C in Mathematics, well above the Northern Ireland average.
In September 2019, the school enrolled 109 pupils into Year 8, the largest intake since the College’s inception in 2002. This number was approved by the Department of Education using temporary variation applications and in response to the exceptionally high number of applications made for September 2019.
Governors, parents, pupils and staff have been calling for the school’s expansion for some time. The second development proposal submitted to the Department of Education in 2018, contained an overwhelming call from parents for an increase in the enrolment number. Amongst the hundreds of responses received following consultation from stakeholders, one statement from a parent was reflective of the widespread support shown for the expansion plans;
‘I very much agree with and support this proposal. Sperrin is a unique school both regarding education and culture, creating a positive, inspiring environment for children to learn and grow. The staff are very supportive of pupils and provide exemplary pastoral care. It is a great shame that currently more children cannot benefit from this unique and progressive school.’
Now that the development proposal is approved, an accommodation strategy will be developed to provide adequate accommodation to meet the needs of increased pupil numbers. The Sperrin College site is a large 20-acre estate which can easily facilitate building and development. The College will require, two additional general classrooms, two ICT rooms, additional Physical Education Changing facilities for males and females, one additional toilet facility for pupils and one for staff, and a Sixth Form accommodation area, to include 2 classrooms. The facilities for PE require enhancement, with an additional 4G play pitch for multi-purpose use. The school will now begin work with the Department of Education officials developing the school facilities in a phased building programme.
Reflecting on the announcement, Principal Mrs Heron said: ‘We are delighted that the Department has recognised the need for the growth and development of Sperrin Integrated College. The school with its grammar and all-ability pathways can now deliver to even more children, our highly effective, success focussed, quality education for all children within a family.’ ‘Schools such as ours, I believe, should be a future blue print for all schools across Northern Ireland’. She continues, ‘the development proposal sets out in ten objectives and impact statements that the key outcome of the proposal is to, ‘uphold an education system that plays a powerful and positive role in the normalising of society, helping to make it sustainable and vibrant, with greater sharing amongst communities.’
Mrs Heron wanted to thank all the governors, staff, parents and pupils who have, over the years worked in close partnership to support the school’s development making Sperrin College a thriving school and is looking forward to the next decade in the school’s journey of success.
The highly successful integrated College has been heavily oversubscribed for many years, first submitting a proposal for an increase in Year 8 enrolment numbers in 2017, however, the decision to enable the school to grow was only made on 3rd January 2020 by the Permanent Secretary Mr Derek Baker.
The development proposal states that, ‘Sperrin Integrated College will increase its admissions number from 80 to 100, with an annual phased increase in the enrolment number from 500 to 600 with effect from 1 September 2020.’
This announcement has followed a series of milestones for the College this year. In August 2019, the academic success of the pupils reached an all-time high with 84% of all pupils achieving grades A*-C in five or more GCSE’s and 75% of A level pupils achieving 3 or more A*-C. Within these outcomes the school acknowledged the high levels of pupil success in English and Mathematics resulting in,79% of all pupils achieving the top grades of A*-C in English and 71% of all pupils achieving A*-C in Mathematics, well above the Northern Ireland average.
In September 2019, the school enrolled 109 pupils into Year 8, the largest intake since the College’s inception in 2002. This number was approved by the Department of Education using temporary variation applications and in response to the exceptionally high number of applications made for September 2019.
Governors, parents, pupils and staff have been calling for the school’s expansion for some time. The second development proposal submitted to the Department of Education in 2018, contained an overwhelming call from parents for an increase in the enrolment number. Amongst the hundreds of responses received following consultation from stakeholders, one statement from a parent was reflective of the widespread support shown for the expansion plans;
‘I very much agree with and support this proposal. Sperrin is a unique school both regarding education and culture, creating a positive, inspiring environment for children to learn and grow. The staff are very supportive of pupils and provide exemplary pastoral care. It is a great shame that currently more children cannot benefit from this unique and progressive school.’
Now that the development proposal is approved, an accommodation strategy will be developed to provide adequate accommodation to meet the needs of increased pupil numbers. The Sperrin College site is a large 20-acre estate which can easily facilitate building and development. The College will require, two additional general classrooms, two ICT rooms, additional Physical Education Changing facilities for males and females, one additional toilet facility for pupils and one for staff, and a Sixth Form accommodation area, to include 2 classrooms. The facilities for PE require enhancement, with an additional 4G play pitch for multi-purpose use. The school will now begin work with the Department of Education officials developing the school facilities in a phased building programme.
Reflecting on the announcement, Principal Mrs Heron said: ‘We are delighted that the Department has recognised the need for the growth and development of Sperrin Integrated College. The school with its grammar and all-ability pathways can now deliver to even more children, our highly effective, success focussed, quality education for all children within a family.’ ‘Schools such as ours, I believe, should be a future blue print for all schools across Northern Ireland’. She continues, ‘the development proposal sets out in ten objectives and impact statements that the key outcome of the proposal is to, ‘uphold an education system that plays a powerful and positive role in the normalising of society, helping to make it sustainable and vibrant, with greater sharing amongst communities.’
Mrs Heron wanted to thank all the governors, staff, parents and pupils who have, over the years worked in close partnership to support the school’s development making Sperrin College a thriving school and is looking forward to the next decade in the school’s journey of success.
School Development
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