Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils at Derryboy Primary School applied for enrolment in the academic year 1998–99 into Saintfield High School; how many of these pupils were (i) accepted and (ii) rejected; and what proposals she has to increase parental choice for secondary education in non-integrated schools for pupils leaving Derryboy Primary School. [78235]
§ Mr. McFallSaintfield High School received 5 applications from Derryboy PS for admission for the 1998–99 academic year; 1 was accepted and 4 were rejected. Where a school is oversubscribed with applications for admission, which was the case at that time, Boards of Governors apply their published admissions criteria to decide which applications are to be accepted.
There were, however, places available at other controlled secondary schools within a reasonable distance eg in Comber and Ballynahinch.
The question of the availability of school places, in this case at non-integrated controlled secondary schools, is a matter for the Local Education and Library Board (in this case the South-Eastern Board) in the first instance.