Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the present enrolments at(a) Scrabo high school and (b) Movilla high school in Newtownards; and what is the maximum enrolment that could be accommodated in the existing buildings at each of those schools. [16106]
§ Mr. AncramThere are currently 283 pupils at Scrabo high school and 858 pupils at Movilla high school, in Newtownards. Scrabo high school can accommodate 515 pupils, whereas Movilla high school can accommodate 900 pupils.
Mr. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals there are for a new integrated secondary school in Newtownards; if such proposals have been considered by the South Eastern education and library board; if a site for such a school has been identified; and if he will make a statement. [16105]
§ Mr. AncramThe South-eastern education and library board published a development proposal for a new integrated secondary school in the North Down area on 10 September 1996. The board formally objected to the proposal on 5 November 1996. My Department was advised on 9 December 1996 by the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education that a site had been identified for the proposed school in Newtownards.
I have decided not to approve the development proposal as I was not satisfied, on the information available, that the school had the potential to sustain a reasonable religious balance between Roman Catholic and Protestant pupils within an overall long-term enrolment of 500.