Credit: Sarah Kelly, parent of daughters who attend St. Malachy
Parents of children who attend St. Malachy Kilclief, have joined together in a campaign to save the primary school which is at risk of being closed by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).听
The听campaigners issued听a statement which says: "When small rural schools are closed or under-resourced, the consequences for these children are profound, so protecting them is therefore not merely a matter of nostalgia or community pride鈥攊t is an issue of equity and child rights.听听听
READ MORE:听University of Nottingham announces suspension of agriculture courses
"Every child deserves access to an educational environment in which they can succeed.听听
It听also听states听that intimate scale rural school allows teachers to know and understand each child better. For some children with听additional听learning requirements or sensory processing challenges, this level of personalised support is not just beneficial鈥攊t is critical.听
"St. Malachys听sits on an extensive piece of land that provides exceptional outdoor space for our children: a pitch, vegetable patch managed by students, swings,听playhouses, and more.听听
"Outdoor space of this scale is becoming increasingly rare as small rural schools face closure, leaving many children with no听option听but to attend schools in towns or villages where access to safe, spacious outdoor play areas is limited.听
"The children at St. Malachy's, benefit so much from our local farming community.听 They have guided walks through local farmlands, bird watching, help in the Eco garden and their vegetable patch as well as helping look after our countryside with litter picks.听
In an effort to听get the word out about the campaign听behind saving the school, the parents of the children who attend organised听a community tractor run on November 16.听
The event brought together families, local farmers, and supporters from across North and South Ireland, in a visible show of solidarity for the future of rural education.听
听"St. Malachy's has been serving generations of local families since 1867.听听Our message is simple: our school matters, and our children matter.听听
"We are committed to ensuring that St. Malachy's听remains听at the heart of this rural community for generations to come."听
READ MORE: Fifth season of Clarkson's 51AV视频could be the last
A petition to save the school has received over 4000 signatures, you can find it听.听
The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools said:听"Operational Plan 2 of the Strategic Area Plan 2022 - 2027, was published on 16 January 2025. This included a work stream for the听 Strangford and Kilclief Area in which the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) proposed to review maintained primary school provision in the area.听
"CCMS plans to carry out a pre-publication consultation with parents, staff and governors from St Malachy's Primary School and St Joseph's Primary School on the future of primary provision in the area. The consultation is due to commence early 2026."
