The Ulster Unionist Party’s North Down MLA, Alan Chambers, has welcomed some movement by the Department of Education which will help a number of pupils affected by the ongoing school admissions’ crisis in the area, by increasing the number of places available at Bangor Academy and Strangford College.
Alan Chambers MLA said:
“Last Thursday I met with officials from the Department of Education and a senior official from the Education Authority with responsibility for forward planning, to discuss post-primary admissions in Bangor and North Down.
“After that meeting I urged Education officials – and in particular the Permanent Secretary of the Department - to authorise a temporary variation to increase entrance numbers at Bangor Academy by around 40 places.
“Today I am very pleased to learn that the Department has indeed given the go-ahead for an increase of 40 pupil places for Bangor Academy and 19 more places for Strangford College.
“This increase will go some way to helping resolve the problem and shows that the Department is listening to the concerns of parents and elected representatives. I welcome this and look forward to continuing to engage with the Department of Education to help those pupils and their parents who are still trying to secure places in local schools.”