Queen Elizabeth II school to stay open as closure plan rejected

Speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly, DUP MLA for West Tyrone Tom Buchanan said it was good news.

“For over 70 years this school has served the rural community with distinction providing a high quality of educational excellence.”

He said the last inspection report had deemed the school “outstanding” in educational achievement.

The report also said it had stable enrolment trends, a sound financial position, demonstrated strong leadership and management and had strong links with all sections of the community.

“Yet despite this excellent report the Education Authority decided that because it failed to meet their 105-pupil enrolment policy it should close,” Mr Buchanan said.

“Since 2017 the Education Authority through their area planning did all in their power to close this school, the very hub of the rural community with closure planned for the summer of this year.”

Mr Buchanan said he wanted to issue a challenge to the Education Authority.

“Rather than pursuing their aims to close the smaller rural schools that are in such good standing, ripping the heart of the rural communities, they must pursue a different agenda by working in collaboration with the smaller rural schools to help strengthen and sustain them through a number of various other mechanisms.

“While the parents, board of governors and teaching staff of Queen Elizabeth II primary school have demonstrated great resilience over the past five years of the EA’s pursuit of closure, I challenge them now to work with the school to repair the damage that they have caused them over those years.”

BBC News NI has contacted the Department of Education and Education Authority for comment.