'I’m completely heartbroken': students feel ignored over planned amalgamation of Cork schools

Having a break in the sensory garden at St Vincents Secondary School were student council members Ella Okpe, Eilis Hickey, Ava Hayes, Bailey Sheehan and Laila Abdelnapy. Picture: Denis Boyle

Cork students at a soon-to-be amalgamated secondary school on the northside of the city want to know why their school looks set to close. 

St Vincent’s and North Presentation secondary schools are set to close at the end of this school year, and a newly amalgamated, co-educational school will open its doors for the academic year of 2023/2024. 

The new school is planned to be located at the North Presentation. However, parents and students at St Vincent's say their concerns about the move have been ignored.

Head girl Ava Hayes told the Irish Examiner the majority of St Vincent’s students do not want the amalgamation. "Everyone was just very surprised. We have nothing against the other school, it's just knowing that our building will be gone, it's just heartbreaking.

“We just find it weird that money is being invested into single-sex schools on the southside of the city. On the northside, we’re all being forced into the one school, co-educational, when we clearly don’t want to be.” 

Deputy head girl Bailey Sheehan said: “It seems like such a sudden decision; we were all taken back. Why would you not ask students their opinions? Why our school in particular? We’ve achieved so much recently.”

Ella Okpe, student council member said: “It’s sad to see it happen to a school you’ve been in for so long, and to one where it almost doesn’t feel like a school. The school has a really long history, and it seems like it's being disregarded.”

Support to autistic students

St Vincent’s is one of the first schools to offer support to autistic students in a single-sex setting through its Lir Hub. Eilis Hickey, a student rep for the Lir Hub, travels to school at St Vincent’s every day from Blarney. 

“I love it there,” she said. 

"It’s like a second family. They are really encouraging of the students, and it’s the first place I was able to truly be myself.” 

She was “heartbroken” to hear the news. 

I cried, first time I heard. The school we worked so hard to make a comfortable, beautiful, and safe environment will be gone.” 

Fifth-year student Laila Abdelnapy is also a student at the Lir Hub. 

“I’m completely heartbroken,” she said. “Before St Vincent’s, my anxiety was through the roof. I opened up and I can now communicate with all of my classmates without fear, which was a big achievement for me. I feel like my safety net has been taken away.”

A spokesman for the Department of Education said the decision-makers for any amalgamation are the patrons or trustees, subject to the approval of the department. It received correspondence requesting approval to amalgamate and change to co-educational. 

"This correspondence described a thorough local consultation process with school communities." 

It is currently looking at a request for funding to facilitate a "broadened curriculum and make provision for students with special educational needs".

A spokeswoman for the Religious Sisters of Charity, St Vincent's trustee, pointed the Irish Examiner to a joint statement issued on behalf of both schools last week.

The patrons will form a steering committee made up of representatives from staff, parents, management and trustees of both schools and chaired by an independent educational advisor, it states.

"The full support of staff, parents and students will ensure the successful implementation of the amalgamation. To this end, Task Forces (sub-committees) will be formed with membership from the wider staffs, parents associations and, where appropriate, students."

"The Trustees will move immediately to form an Interim Board of Management whose initial responsibility will be the appointment of a Principal for the newly amalgamated school."

"We understand that there will be challenges in ensuring a successful amalgamation by September 2023."

"However, you will be well aware that this is an urgent matter and it is important that we all work together to ensure that the Catholic Education in the tradition of Nano Nagle and Mary Aikenhead is preserved in North Cork city."