Erne Integrated College has nine governors resign

Erne Integrated College has more than 350 pupils and about 75 staff

The majority of the board of governors at a County Fermanagh secondary school has resigned.

The principal of Erne Integrated College in Enniskillen, Jimmy Jackson-Ware, has also announced his plan to retire.

In a statement on the school's Facebook page Mr Jackson-Ware said nine out of 11 governors had quit and he thanked them for their support and hard work.

Erne Integrated College has more than 350 pupils and about 75 staff.

Mr Jackson-Ware is retiring in August after 35 years of teaching but said his decision had nothing to do with the governors' resignations.

He added that the resignations of nine governors was a temporary situation and that he and other senior leaders would continue to lead and manage the school.

"The school will continue to function as normal and there will be no impact on the high quality learning and teaching that takes place in Erne Integrated College," he said.

'Very unusual situation'

The NASUWT union represents a large number of teachers at the school and national official Justin McCamphill has described the situation as "very unusual".

"The NASUWT is calling on the Department of Education to ensure that adequate governance arrangements are put in place to ensure the proper running of the school," said Mr McCamphill.

The governors include representatives of the founding trust, parents, teachers and members appointed by the Department of Education.

The founding trust for the Enniskillen area is the Western Area Charitable Trust for Integrated Education.