Write a comment
An announcement by the Education Authority yesterday that Kingsmills Primary School will close has been met with fear and disappointment by Slieve Gullion Councillor David Taylor. The school had 32 pupils in 2021/2022.
The Education Authority announced yesterday 25 April that "Kingsmills Primary School will discontinue with effect from 31 August 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter."
A consultation in 2022 saw 123 out of 127 respondents disagree with a proposal to close the school, with respondants saying things like "The quality of education statements in the consultation document does not reflect the quality of education at Kingsmills PS. Scores achieved by Kingsmills PS pupils are above the national average." and "The strong support Kingsmills PS gives to pupils with Special Educational Needs – many pupils have transferred to the school after struggling in larger schools and thrive at Kingsmills PS." and "The closure will have a detrimental impact on the rural community. It will impact on the controlled primary provision in the South Armagh area."
Ulster Unionist Councillor David Taylor expressed his bitter disappointment at the decision. Councillor Taylor said “I am bitterly disappointed at the announcement by the Department of Education that it will proceed with the closure of Kingsmills Primary School at the end of this academic year.
“The decision taken by the Department of Education can only be described as ill-conceived and will serve to rip the heart out of the local community. It is all the more frustrating that this decision has been taken by officials with no accountability who have shown no empathy or understanding of the unique circumstances and importance attached to retaining small rural schools such as Kingsmills. It is surely no coincidence that this decision has been taken at a time of political paralysis."
Cllr Taylor who serves on the Board of Governors added “I have been proud to serve as a member of the Board of Governors of Kingsmills Primary School in recent years and I am acutely aware of how much Kingsmills means to the staff, parents and pupils associated with the school. This is a severe blow to them all and my main focus of concern is with them in particular as the processes of redeploying staff and the transfer of children to alternative schools now proceeds.
“Kingsmills Primary School has been an integral part of the local area for many generations. The school has provided local children with an excellent standard of education throughout this time and has always been held in the highest regard by the community. To see the Department of Education proceed with the decision to close a school of this quality is hard to comprehend."
The Slieve Gullion Councillor believes that rural schools are seen as an easy target within the education sector as a means of making cost savings but that in reality their closure leads to little or no cost efficiencies.
Cll Taylor continued “There is also a significant issue regarding the subject of rural proofing – including considerations such as the impact which a school closure would have on the wider rural community in the area. This has obviously not been given any consideration by the Department of Education in respect of their decision pertaining to Kingsmills Primary School.
“Everyone associated with Kingsmills Primary School has fought so hard in recent months to save the school and the outcome announced will be devastating for all who contributed to the campaign.
“I genuinely fear about the impact this decision will have on the local minority Protestant community where the effect of this decision will be felt most. Unfortunately, the Department of Education does not appear to have reflected on this at all when proceeding with the closure of Kingsmills Primary School.”
