§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the existing position with regard to plans for an extension to Movilla high school, Newtownards; and how many pupils are to be provided for in the school over the next decade;
(2) what is the estimated number of secondary age school children in the Newtownards catchment area; and what is the likely movement in the figures over the next decade.
§ Mr. ScottThe south-eastern education and library board is at present considering plans for an extension on which will enable Movilla high school to provide accommodation for up to 960 pupils. I understand that this matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the board on 30 June. The enrolments at the three secondary schools in Newtownards in January 1982 were as follows:
Number Regent House Grammar School 1,291 Scrabo High School 567 Movilla High School 674 TOTAL 2,532 Regent House school draws pupils from a much wider area than the Newtownards catchment area. However, information based solely on those primary schools which normally send pupils to Movilla and Scrabo high schools indicate that the secondary school population in the Newtownards area will increase slightly in the first half of the decade and return to about the present level at the end of the decade.