Schools could close all over NI: report

Up to 40 schools across Northern Ireland could be under threat of closure – because they are not sustainable – it emerged today.

A report from the Education Authority says there are too many schools - and not enough pupils to justify keeping them open.

However, any closures or mergers would be subject to a consultation process.

Providing Pathways - Strategic Area Plan for Schools 2017-2020 analyses the educational needs and challenges to ensure that all children have access to a broad and balanced curriculum.

It is accompanied by a 2017-18 action plan which identifies key priorities and actions that EA and other managing authorities will focus on in the first year at a local level and within each local government district.

EA Director of Education John Collings said: “Providing Pathways is the first area plan for the whole of Northern Ireland. It aims to ensure that we have a network of sustainable schools for Northern Ireland that are of the right type, of the right size, and in the right place.

“Our goal is to enhance the quality of education provision and to raise standards for all children and young people in Northern Ireland. We want to ensure that all pupils are taught in good, sustainable schools that can effectively meet their educational needs as well as providing a range of opportunities for development in other ways.

“We have too many schools for the size of our population, particularly at primary school level. Providing Pathways aims to stimulate discussion and dialogue and to facilitate the development of creative and innovative solutions to shared challenges.

“We must maximise the use of the schools’ estate through sharing and co-operation to ensure that the educational experiences of our young people are the best they can be. This will also help reduce duplication and ensure efficient use of resources.”

After the publication of the development proposal, there is a two-month statutory period for consultation.

During this period the Department of Education accepts representations in support of and in objection to the development proposal. These are usually made in writing to the Department.

The Minister for Education considers the information and makes a decision to either approve or turn down the proposal. The Minister usually will make a decision within 4-6 weeks. The Minister’s decision concludes the development proposal process.

This comes as a £50m pound budget cut looms over education because of the lack of an Executive at Stormont.

A number of Head Teachers in Belfast have written to parents saying they will refuse to implement any further cuts.

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