Written evidence (16 January 2005) from
Angela Smith MP, Minister for Education, Northern Ireland Office
In the course of the evidence session on 14
December, I undertook to provide additional information for the
Committee. This follows below.
Q187 Details of meetings with key interests
about new post-primary arrangements.
In my evidence to the Committee I referred to
meetings with grammar school interests and those who are promoting
and supporting the new post-primary arrangements. Details of these
meetings are set out in Annex 1.
In addition, to ensure that I was aware of all
shades of opinion before making decisions about the admissions
arrangements which I announced on 6 December, I arranged other
meetings with a wide range on interests, including the main political
parties and parents interest groups following the consultation
on the admission arrangements. Details of these meetings are set
out in Annex 2.
I cannot provide details of the duration of
the meetings as they often overran, but I have included details
of the time allocated in my diary for each of them.
Q228 Details of resources to support the implementation
of new post-primary arrangements.
It is not possible to detail the overall costs
of implementing the new post-primary arrangements. This is because
a large proportion of the costs will relate to the development
of collaboration among schools and between schools and further
education colleges, to deliver the Entitlement Framework. The
new arrangements in each locality will be developed by schools
and school managing authorities working together and with the
further education sector to determine how best to meet local wishes,
needs and circumstances. Any implications for the schools estate
will be taken into account as part of ongoing capital planning.
£24.7 million has been made available to
the Department of Education to begin to implement the new post-primary
arrangements over the current spending review period 2005-06 to
2007-08. The purpose of these resources is to provide the capacity
for schools to prepare for the change to the new arrangements,
including work on developing the Pupil Profile, piloting arrangements
for cooperation and collaboration among schools and between schools
and the further education sector, and piloting the concept of
specialist schools.
This initial work will enable the Department
of Education to estimate the future costs beyond March 2008 and
will be the subject of further consideration during the next spending
review.
The focus of these resources is on:
— Enabling school managing authorities
to facilitate and support schools to begin to develop collaborative
arrangements with other schools and further education colleges
and generally to support work by schools to prepare for the implementation
of new post-primary arrangements.
— Piloting arrangements for collaborative
partnerships between schools and further education colleges through
the Vocational Enhancement Programme (VEP). A circular setting
out the detailed arrangements for VEP in 2006-07 issued to all
post-primary schools and further education colleges on 6 January.
A copy is enclosed for your information.
— The continuing development and trialling
of the Pupil Profile.
— The development of new vocational
qualifications.
— Piloting the concept of specialist
schools in the Northern Ireland context.
— Consultation on key aspects of the
new arrangements as they are developed and on ensuring that schools,
parents and the wider public are kept advised of decisions about
the new arrangements as they are made.
The indicative allocations over the period 2005-06
to 2007-08 under these key headings are as follows:
|
| Resources for schools in developing collaborative arrangements with other schools and with FE colleges to deliver the Entitlement Framework (includes expenditure on VEP).
| £12.5 million |
| Additional support to managing authorities to enable them to support schools in delivering access to the Entitlement Framework.
| £3.8 million |
| Development of Specialist Schools. | £4.7 million
|
| Resources to support the development and roll-out of the Pupil Profile and the development of vocational qualifications.
| £2.6 million |
| Consultation and Information Strategy. |
£1.1 million |
| TOTAL | £24.7 million
|
|
I must emphasise that these are indicative figures only and
the allocations in each of the years will be determined according
to actual needs as they are assessed.
I am satisfied that the resources available will enable the
education sector in Northern Ireland to prepare for the implementation
of new arrangements after the final Transfer Tests take place
in autumn 2008.
Q241 To keep the Committee informed about a meeting with
Dr Morrison.
In response to the public invitation made by the Committee
Chairman at the evidence session on 14 December, I received a
request for a meeting from Dr Morrison on 10 January. My Private
Office is making the necessary arrangements for this meeting to
take place.
Q258 Information about specialist schools.
There are 12 schools currently preparing application forms
seeking Specialist Schools status. Applications should be submitted
to the Department by 10 February 2006 and, following assessment
by an independent panel, schools to be included in the pilot will
be announced in March 2006.
In the short term, the Department of Education will evaluate
the appropriateness of the application process, including the
requirement to raise sponsorship, by:
— consulting with all those schools (46) that applied
for inclusion in the pilot;
— consulting with the independent panel;
— seeking the views of the school managing authorities;
and
— seeking the views of colleagues within the Department
and in the Department of Employment and Learning.
In due course I will update the Committee about the application
process.
In the longer term, and as part of the ongoing monitoring
and evaluation of the impact on the pilot schools and their partner
schools, the Education and Training Inspectorate will monitor
and evaluate the progress of pilot schools against targets set
in the School Development Plan and the Community Development Plan
for the next four years.
Q259 Information about additional resources made available
for special needs education.
In 2005-06 additional resources of £1,618k (balance
of SR 2002) and £8,400k (SR 2004) were allocated to meet
the needs of pupils with SEN. This included support to children
with SEN statements in mainstream schools, including costs arising
as a result of Special Educational Needs and Disability Order.
The recent announcement of an additional £3.5 million and
of some £5 million in 2006-07 and £15 million in 2007-08
for special educational needs will further enhance provision.
16 January 2005
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