The Bain Review dealt with the need for better planning of the schools’ estate in the context of falling enrolments, and with encouraging integration in education.
he Minister said: “This Review lays the foundation for a radical new future for Northern Ireland’s education system, based on sharing and learning together. Vitally, it puts quality at the heart of the education system. I am determined that any reorganisation of the schools system will result in the best quality educational outcomes for every child in Northern Ireland.”
The Minister said a detailed implementation plan will be published early in the new year, setting out how action will be taken on the Review, but that work needs to commence now in a number of areas:
“I accept fully the Review’s central recommendation that the education system should move quickly to a system of area based planning. This
will deal with the problems of over-provision and lack of co-ordination created by the current system, in which each sector generally plans its schools in isolation from the others. I have asked my Department to establish a working group involving the relevant sector groups to start work on area based planning.”
The Minister accepted the Review’s minimum enrolment thresholds for primary and post primary schools and sixth forms, but said: “This is not an agenda to close small schools. I want to reassure all schools that the approach to new thresholds will be planned carefully with the educational interests of pupils remaining paramount.”
Maria Eagle went on to say that future capital building projects must be considered in the context of area based planning, and that previously announced capital projects currently in the planning process are being reviewed to assess their consistency with the direction set out in the Bain Review.
The Minister said careful consideration will be given to the Review’s recommendations on integrating education in advance of the publication of the detailed implementation plan in January: “Government’s commitment to increasing levels of integration in the education system is clear, and last week, the Secretary of State signalled that Government is ready to provide capital investment to develop a shared future in Northern Ireland’s schools.
“In regard to Irish medium education, it is a suitable time now to take forward a broad review of policy for this area as the Review recommends.
“I accept the findings of the Review that the funding provided for education must reflect the changing nature of school provision in an environment that supports sharing and collaboration. For that reason, we will review the factors that make up the LMS common funding
formula to make sure that they reflect and are responsive to the main cost drivers in the classroom.
“We will also consult with school governors and principals on the scope for delegating further spending decisions to schools, recognising the value in allowing governors and principals to take spending decisions at local level, within the budgets allocated to them.”
The Minister said the Northern Ireland’s education system is entering a new era, and that the current re-organisation of administration of the system will help implement the Bain recommendations, ultimately leading to better outcomes for young people and for the economy.
“Today’s appointment of Gavin Boyd to lead the new Education and Skills Authority is a further signal of Government’s commitment to revitalising and modernising education. He will have a pivotal role in revitalising this transformation and I know his experience in CCEA will stand him well in taking forward this challenging task.”
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