Education Minister, Paul Givan, has confirmed plans to establish a new organisation to provide dedicated support to controlled schools across Northern Ireland.
The announcement follows an eight-week public consultation that attracted 744 responses, including almost half of all controlled school principals, and revealed overwhelming support for change. Ninety-one percent of respondents agreed that support for controlled schools must improve and eighty-four percent backed the creation of a dedicated organisation.
Commenting on the consultation, the Minister said: “School leaders have spoken with a clear and united voice. Controlled schools, which educate half of our pupils, have long lacked the parity, advocacy and tailored support they need. This consultation provides a powerful mandate for change. I want to thank all of the school leaders and stakeholders who engaged with the consultation and have helped to shape the way forward.”
The Minister continued: “I will move immediately to bring these proposals back to the Executive and press for their inclusion in the legislative programme. I hope with Executive support to introduce the legislation to establish the new organisation later this year. We must act decisively to deliver the dedicated support that controlled schools both need and deserve.”
The new organisation will become the managing authority for controlled schools, delivering sector-specific leadership, school improvement and governance support. Its remit will mirror that of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) ensuring equity across all school sectors.
In responding to the consultation, CCMS expressed strong support for the approach taken, noting that establishing a dedicated organisation for controlled schools “would bring the sector into line with the statutory arrangements that have long benefitted the Catholic maintained sector, strengthening equity and balance across the education system. It would also provide the strategic leadership, clarity of purpose and sectoral accountability needed to improve outcomes for children and young people”.
Recognising that legislation will take time, the Minister confirmed that a Controlled Schools Unit (CSU) within the Education Authority is already being established to deliver immediate improvements in support. The Department welcomes the engagement between the CSU and the Controlled Schools Support Council to align support and provide a complementary overall offer to schools.
A full Consultation Summary Report is available on the Department of Education website: www.education-ni.gov.uk/
A Written Ministerial Statement has also been published and can be accessed at: www.education-ni.gov.uk/
