Research Papers 2011
Synopsis: Here you will find a list of Committee for Education research papers published during 2011.
Programme for Government commitments: Department of Education
- Date: 01/12/2011 - Author: Caroline Perry
A Draft Programme for Government (PfG) was introduced to the Assembly on November 17th 2011, setting out the Executive’s plans and priorities for the period 2011-15. The Executive also published a Draft Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland. This briefing note provides an overview of the main commitments and priorities set out within these documents in relation to education and the investment allocations in this regard.
Sharing and collaborating in education
- Date: 23/11/2011 - Author: Caroline Perry
This paper considers a number of issues around sharing and collaborating in education. It finds that while attitudes to shared education are largely positive, there are a number of challenges that can discourage schools from collaborating in practice.
Revised approach to the Equality Scheme
- Date: 12/10/2011 - Author: Caroline Perry
Discusses the requirement for all public authorities, including the Department of Education, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and regard to the desirability of promoting good relations across a range of categories outlined in Section 75 of the N.I. Act 1998.
Procurement in education in other jurisdictions
- Date: 28/09/2011 - Author: Caroline Perry
This paper considers arrangements for procurement in education across England, Scotland and Wales and Ireland. Procurement has been identified as a key area of focus for efficiency savings in each of the jurisdictions. Recent and planned reforms to procurement tend to focus on centralisation as a means of achieving better value for money.
Arguments on the school starting age
- Date: 21/09/2011 - Author: Caroline Perry
Northern Ireland has the lowest compulsory school age in Europe, and there are some concerns regarding the comparatively low school starting age here (and throughout the UK). This briefing paper provides an overview of the different arguments or positions on the school starting age. The paper highlights that there are differing views and evidence on this issue.
Common Funding Scheme
- Date: 21/09/2011 - Author: Caroline Perry
This paper provides an overview of the Department of Education's Common Funding Scheme, changes made to the 2011/12 Scheme and a number of potential challenges relating to it. It also briefly considers approaches to funding schools in other jurisdictions.
School Transport for Pupils with Special Educational Needs
- Date: 12/09/2011 - Author: Caroline Perry
This briefing note outlines the current arrangements for the provision for home to school transport for pupils with special educational needs.
School councils
- Date: 08/09/2011 - Author: Caroline Perry
This paper considers the potential benefits of school councils, issues and challenges around their effective implementation, and the factors and attributes of successful councils. It finds that while the effectiveness of school councils varies, they have the potential to deliver positive outcomes for students and schools. Their effectiveness depends on a number of factors, for example, the extent to which they are situated within wider democratic structures and practices.
School governors
- Date: 08/09/2011 - Author: Caroline Perry
This paper provides an overview of a number of issues relating to school governance, including the extent to which Boards of Governors carry out a challenge function, a perceived tension between achieving both representation and an appropriate mix of skills across a governing body, training and development for governors and alternative models of school governance.
Administration of medication to pupils
- Date: 08/09/2011 - Author: Caroline Perry
This briefing note discusses the currentarrangements for the administration of medication to pupils.
