GBA Attends Evidence Session at Westminster
Following the submission of written evidence, the GBA was invited to give oral evidence in Westminster yesterday. GBA Chairperson, Leo O’Reilly represented the GBA on a shared panel with EA, CCMS and CSSC. At the session, Leo reiterated and expanded upon the points made via the written evidence which included:
- Societal or aspirational demand for integrated education does not reflect reality or what happens in practice.
- The definition of integrated education, as set out in the recent act, can be applied to many schools, not just integrated schools.
- Oversubscription exists in all sectors, especially the voluntary grammar sector, and demand for post-primary school places must be assessed within this context.
- The majority, if not all schools in Northern Ireland are welcoming to all faiths and none, and schools work hard to foster close relationships with each other and instil values such as mutual respect and understanding within their ethos' and curriculum.
GBA AGM and Executive Committee Nominations
GBA Executive Committee Nominations
- Contributing to educational policy development
- Representing the sector on a variety of key stakeholder groups
- Raising emerging issues
- Contributing to the strategic direction of the Association
Area Planning
The planning year for Operational Plan 2: 2024-2026 (OP2) is well underway and the document is now being drafted to include the various workstreams discussed and agreed through the Area Planning Local Groups.
The plan will include a number of short and medium term workstreams to be progressed or developed within the lifespan of the plan, and is scheduled to be published in September 2024.
Operational Plan 1: 2022-2024 is nearing completion however some projects will carry over to OP2.
Work also continues to identify pressure areas for Specialist Education which includes a significant increase in the need for Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools (SPiMs) over the next number of years.
Further information on Operational Plans and SPiMs is available by clicking on the respective links.
We are aware that a number of schools are waiting for an update regarding the Normalisation pilot. The GBA will raise this matter with the Department of Education as this may impact proposals for OP2.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of Area Planning please contact us.
Northern Ireland Assembly Updates
In his first Ministerial statement in the Assembly on the 12th February 2024, the Education Minister, Paul Givan,set out his plans for capital investment across the Education Sector.
The Minister said: “Children across Northern Ireland have the right to be educated in schools which are comfortable and safe, are of good quality and are properly designed and resourced to support their learning.
“I have therefore commissioned, as a matter of priority, a Capital Investment Strategy for Education which sets out a compelling vision for a responsive, agile and innovative programme of capital investment clearly aligned to wider education and Executive policy.”
“Consequently, I have submitted funding bids of £528 million to the Department of Finance to meet education capital needs next year. As an absolute minimum, I require an additional £100 million of capital above the draft budget allocation to meet pressures in regard to Special Educational Need placements.
The full statement is available here.
Minister's Questions
- Statutory assessments and parental referrals.
- The recommendations of the Independent Review of Education.
- Education budget
- Careers advice reform
- End to end review of Special Education Needs
Education Committee
- On 6th February 2024, Nick Mathison (Alliance) was nominated as Chairperson of the Education Committee and Pat Sheehan (Sinn Fein) was nominated as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee. Please click here for the full membership of the Committee.
- The Committee met for the 1st time on 14th February 2024, discussing various matters including teachers’ pension scheme and the circumstances in which a pupil may be excused from Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Education.
- The Committee has since met twice and has heard briefings from the NI Teaching Council, Employers for Childcare and Department of Education Officials.
- The recordings of committee meetings and forward work programme of the committee are available on the NI Assembly website.
GBA Governor
Meetings
Please be advised that the GBA can provide presentations to Boards Of Governors regarding the remit and work of the GBA should you find this helpful.
Please contact Nuala O’Neill if you wish to avail of this. Thank you.
Free Mental Health Resources and School Workshops Available via Mindwise
Advertising of Teaching & Non-Teaching Vacancies on the GBA Website
The GBA provides a free advertising service for our member schools. Job vacancies are posted on our website and Twitter page. The Education Authority website also links to the GBA jobs section.
If you would like us to host a vacancy for your school, please contact us,
using our job template and allow at least TWO WORKING DAYS for posts to be uploaded. Thank you for your cooperation with this
