Minister turns down proposals for Focus Trust School

Education Minister, Caitriona Ruane, has turned down Development Proposals for the establishment of a federated split-site Focus Trust primary school.

The Focus Trust (NI) Learning Trust is a registered charity established for the provision of suitable education of children from the Brethren Community.

Explaining the reasons for her decision the Minister said: "I fully appreciate the aims of the Focus Trust in seeking to establish a school that would fully satisfy Brethren society aspirations and, whilst the Trust has taken steps to meet the statutory and policy requirements, I am concerned that there are a number of important areas covering admissions, curriculum planning and pupil assessment arrangements which do not meet the specified requirements. In addition, suitable sites have not been identified to date and the anticipated pupil intakes would not satisfy the minimum intakes required. I have therefore decided not to approve these proposals."

Notes to Editors:

1. The Western, Southern and North Eastern Education and Library Boards published Development Proposals (DPs) Nos 202, 221 and 238 respectively in the week commencing 7 January 2008. The DPs were published at the request of the Focus Trust (NI) Learning Trust. Focus Trust proposes to establish a new federated primary school in Northern Ireland which will operate initially with three campuses. The school is proposed as a 'federated' model and to open with effect from 1 September 2008 or as soon as possible thereafter. The two month period for objections ended on 10 March 2008.

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