Research Papers 2012

• Education Bill: school inspection

  Reference: 194/12 - Date: 13/12/2012

  This paper considers the proposed powers and provides a comparison with other jurisdictions. It also looks specifically at the approach to school inspection in Scotland.

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• Seat belts on home-to-school transport

  Reference: 193/12 - Date: 12/12/2012

  This paper provides an overview of the legislation and policy as it relates to seat belts on home-to-school transport.

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• Underachievement

  Reference: 177/12 - Date: 14/11/2012

  This research paper provides an overview of the levels of underachievement in Northern Ireland, considers factors that contribute to underachievement and discusses approaches to addressing it.

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• Surplus school places

  Reference: 175/12 - Date: 08/11/2012

  This briefing paper details the basis on which surplus school places are calculated, highlighting differences between the approach used by the Department of Education (the Department) and the approach used by the Education and Library Boards (ELBs). It also briefly considers approaches to assessing school capacity in other jurisdictions. In addition, it provides an overview of surplus places in primary and post-primary schools and a breakdown of vacant places by management type, Education and Library Board and on an urban/rural basis.

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• School inspection

  Reference: 167/12 - Date: 24/10/2012

  This paper provides an overview of approaches to inspection here; in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and internationally

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• Providing information on pupil and school performance

  Reference: 165/12 - Date: 17/10/2012

  This paper provides an overview of the changes to Regulations on school information provision, considers some possible implications and discusses approaches elsewhere.

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• Shared education and Lisanelly

  Reference: 153/12 - Date: 11/10/2012

  This briefing paper provides a summary of some of the key benefits and challenges of shared education; gives examples of practice elsewhere; and provides information on the proposed Lisanelly shared campus. More detailed information on shared education can be found in Research Paper 165/11: Sharing and collaborating in education

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• Education Bill

  Reference: 152/12 - Date: 11/10/2012

  The Education Bill aims to provide for the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) and introduces a range of other provisions related to the management and governance of schools. This Bill Paper discusses the Bill and highlights a number of areas that could be given further consideration

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• Overview of English Baccalaureate Certificates

  Reference: 133/12 - Date: 20/09/2012

  On 17th September 2012 Michael Gove, the Education Secretary in England, set out proposals to move from the current system of GCSEs at the end of Key Stage 4 to a system of English Baccalaureate Certificates. This paper provides a brief overview.

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• Administration of medication in schools in other jurisdictions

  Reference: 116/12 - Date: 05/07/2012

  This Briefing Note considers policies and arrangements for the administration of medications to pupils in schools in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

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• Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA)

  Reference: 115/12 - Date: 05/07/2012

  CCEA is a non-departmental public body reporting to the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. This Briefing Paper provides an overview of CCEA’s functions, comparable organisations in other jurisdictions and an overview of recent examination errors.

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• Free school meals in other jurisdictions

  Reference: 103/12 - Date: 20/06/2012

  This Briefing Paper explores the provision of free school meals (FSM) in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It considers FSM policy and a number of initiatives that are in place or have been in place in these jurisdictions.

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• Literacy and numeracy coordinators in other jurisdictions

  Reference: 96/12 - Date: 31/05/2012

  This paper provides an overview of the role of literacy and numeracy coordinators in Northern Ireland, and discusses the qualifications required here and for comparable roles in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

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• Research findings for the Committee’s Inquiry into School Councils

  Reference: 72/12 - Date: 10/05/2012

  The Committee for Education is holding an Inquiry into School Councils aiming to examine the work of school councils in Northern Ireland, how they operate and their contribution to school life. This Research Paper presents the results of a recent survey of schools and focus groups with pupils undertaken as part of the inquiry.

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• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

  Reference: 62/12 - Date: 27/03/2012

  Research indicates that there is likely to be an increasing demand for graduates qualified in STEM within the growing sectors of the Northern Ireland economy in the coming years. This Briefing Paper provides an overview of developments relating to STEM here, including the uptake of STEM subjects, STEM strategy and initiatives and commitments within the previous and current Programmes for Government.

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• Programme for Government pre-school commitment

  Reference: 39/12 - Date: 21/02/2012

  The Draft Programme for Government (PfG) 2011-15 included a commitment to ensure that at least one year of pre-school education is available to every family that wants it. This paper sets out the current arrangements for pre-school provision, and considers the commitment in comparison to the current approach; the implementation of the commitment; and potential issues.

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• Middletown Centre for Autism

  Reference: 48/12 - Date: 19/02/2012

  The Middletown Centre for Autism aims to support the promotion of excellence in the development and coordination of education services to children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The Centre is a cross-border facility jointly funded by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland and the Department of Education and Skills (DES) in Ireland. Plans for the establishment of the Centre were announced in 2002; it was officially launched in 2004 following the purchase of the site and it was opened in 2007. Its key proposed benefits were the provision of a diagnostic facility to allow for early diagnosis and assessment; the provision of a residential support centre; and the provision of a training and advisory service.

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• Models of school ownership and management

  Reference: 32/12 - Date: 15/02/2012

  This Briefing Paper highlights a range of models of ownership and management in schools. Areas for consideration in this regard could include the relevance of alternative models of ownership here, such as the involvement of sponsors in establishing schools and setting their ethos. Consideration could also be given to the recommendations of the group exploring transferring patronage from religious organisations in Ireland, particularly in terms of incorporating pupils of different beliefs and backgrounds within an individual school.

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• Planning school provision

  Reference: 28/12 - Date: 08/02/2012

  This Research Paper considers approaches to school planning in other jurisdictions, including approaches to rationalising schools where appropriate. It also briefly examines cultural diversity in school planning, and considers the issue of parental choice in education.

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• Survey results for the Committee’s Inquiry into School Councils

  Reference: 18/12 - Date: 02/02/2012

  The Committee for Education is holding an Inquiry into School Councils aiming to examine the work of school councils in Northern Ireland, how they operate and their contribution to school life. This Research Paper presents the results of a recent survey of schools undertaken as part of the inquiry.

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• Supporting SME access to public procurement opportunities

  Reference: 12/12 - Date: 26/01/2012

  This Research Paper finds that SMEs can face a number of challenges in accessing public procurement opportunities. A number of measures have been highlighted that could be used to support SME access to procurement, including simplifying procurement processes, dividing larger contracts into lots, setting proportionate requirements and building capacity among SMEs.

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• Procurement in education: summary paper

  Reference: 13/12 - Date: 26/01/2012

  This Research Paper summarises a number of key issues in regard to procurement in education here, based on a series of papers recently produced for the education committee on this issue.

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