The North’s education minister John O’Dowd says St Gemma’s High School in Ardoyne, north Belfast, is unsustainable and must close.
The all-girls secondary school is struggling with falling pupil numbers and poor exam performance.
Dozens of secondary schools across the North are similarly expected to disappear as a massive area-based planning exercise rolls out.
St Gemma’s closure leaves the neighbouring Ardoyne and Oldpark areas – which have an estimated Catholic population of 15,000 – without a local Catholic post-primary. Plans are well advanced, however, for secondary education to make a swift return to the area. St Gemma’s 2012/13 enrolment is 110 and there are no pupils in year 8.
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