Plans to close and merge special schools in Northern Ireland will leave services for pupils “diluted and compromised”.
That’s the view of retired head teacher Colm Davis.
Retired head teacher Colm Davis: he says super-schools have largely failed
Plans involve seven schools
Northern Ireland’s Education Authority is plotting a major reorganisation of Belfast’s special schools.
This strategy would involve closing or merging seven out of its 10 schools.
The Education Authority plans to replace the ten schools with three new super-schools by September 2020.
But Davis said super-schools have largely failed in England.
Super-school outcomes ‘poor’
Davis, the former head of Tor Bank special needs school in Dundonald, Northern Ireland, said outcomes in super-schools in the main “have been poor”.
He said “a more generic and less specialised focus tends to evolve” because of the wide range of pupils.
The schools earmarked for closure are Fleming Fulton, Glenveagh, Harberton, Oakwood, Park, Mitchell House and Greenwood.
Glenveagh and Fleming Fulton are to merge in the north of the city.
Mark Langhammer, director of the National Education Union in Northern Ireland: he suggests the move to close and merge special schools is driven by a desire to mainstream almost all special needs children
Harberton and Oakwood would also merge. The new school will take over the existing Harberton site in South Belfast.
In east Belfast, Park, Mitchell House and Greenwood schools would close and merge on a site yet to be decided.
Agenda ‘to mainstream special needs children’
Mark Langhammer is the director of the National Education Union in Northern Ireland.
He believes the move is part of a larger agenda to mainstream almost all special needs children.
But Langhammer said Northern Ireland will always need “specialist provision”.
An Education Authority spokesperson said it will publish “detailed development proposals” for consultation. The plans would also need “ministerial or departmental approval”, the spokesperson added.
The Education Authority wants children to attend their closest special school.
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Published: 22 March 2018
