Post-primary schools across Northern Ireland are facing many challenges which school trustees are addressing so that appropriate schools are in place to cater for the education of current and future generations.

Which schools are involved?

• St Mary’s High School, Lurgan
• St Michael’s Grammar School, Lurgan
• St Paul’s Junior High School, Lurgan
• Lismore Comprehensive School, Craigavon

What are the challenges?

* Major curriculum changes

* Access to a wider range of subjects

* Delivery of Academic and Vocational options

* Falling population in many areas

* Collaboration with educational partners so as to deliver the widest educational choices

What is the process?

The review process has been agreed by NICCE and it has established a Diocesan Programme Board to oversee the review within all Catholic post-primary schools in the Diocese and a Project Board which is managing the Lurgan Project and is responsible for making a final decision on the outcome.

A local User Group representing key education stakeholders also exists to quality assure options.

Any options emerging will be subject to the widest possible consultation in the community.

The Post-primary review team are supporting the Lurgan project.

The Lurgan Project is committed to designing and delivering a non-selective, inclusive system of post-primary education for all pupils in the Lurgan area.

What is the progress to date?

A pre-consultation exercise was carried out with key stakeholders from April to June 2008.

Pre-consultation document with options

A wide range of reponses were received during this period. The responses were collated and analysed and presented to the Project Board in September 2008.

Summary of responses to the pre-consultation.

The Project Board carefully considered the outcome of this consultation and decided to proceed with the development of two all-ability, co-educational schools, one on the current Lismore Comprehensive School site and one on the site of St Michael's Grammar School, Lurgan. The Lurgan school will result from the amalgamation of St Mary's High School, St Michael's Grammar School and St Paul's Junior High School.

Letter from NICCE to key stakeholders

An economic appraisal is being commissioned from the Department of Education to evaluate this option. It is expected to be completed by September 2009.On completion of this exercise it is hoped that a formal Development Proposal will be published. This entails a formal public consultation process when an opportunity is given for comment on the final detailed proposal.

Press release on Lurgan- Lismore Project February 2009

On completion of the formal public consultation a final decision is made by the Minister for Education.