Cork students 'heartbroken' by decision to amalgamate their school with another 

'How hypocritical is it from those in higher power, that we won an award for listening to young people's voices, all for our own voices to be shut down?'

The site of St Vincent’s Secondary School on St Mary's Road in Cork city. Picture: Facebook

Students at a prominent Cork school say they have been left "heartbroken" and "completely blindsided" by the decision to amalgamate their school with another from next year.

Last month, it was announced that the Department of Education had approved a proposal from Catholic Education Irish Schools' Trust (CEIST) and the Religious Sisters of Charity to amalgamate St Vincent’s Secondary School on St Mary's road in Cork City, with the North Presentation Secondary School in Farranree.