Planning the school estate

agendaNi sums up the trends for school numbers and the criteria used to assess viability.

Just over 100 schools have closed or amalgamated with others in Northern Ireland over the last 10 years. Under the sustainable schools policy, the final decision on a state-funded school’s closure or amalgamation rests with the Minister and is influenced by six factors:

1. the quality of the educational experience;

2. enrolment trends;

3. the school’s financial position;

4. leadership and management;

5. geographic accessibility; and

6. links with the community.

A good quality educational experience covers an assessment of GCSE and Key Stage test results. The school’s physical condition, ability to cater for children with special educational needs, and provide the entitlement framework – by itself or with others – will also be assessed.

Enrolment trends over the previous three years are used to project future demand and four minimum pupil enrolments are also outlined:

• rural primary: 105

• urban primary: 150

• 11-16 post-primary: 500

• sixth form: 100

Schools are expected to live within the means of their delegated budget and to explain how any deficit will be “substantially reduced or recovered”.

The leadership and management assessment includes listening to the governors’ perspective on the school and looking at the level of teacher morale and progress on the school development plan.

Home-to-school travel times should not exceed 30 minutes for primary pupils or 45 minutes for post-primary pupils. Schools will also be asked to provide evidence on the degree and quality of parents’ involvement and how the school contributes to the community e.g. by opening up its facilities to sports clubs or voluntary organisations.

The table at right outlines the number of schools at three points in time: the most recent academic year (2013-2014); a decade previously in 2003-2004; and 2007-2008 immediately after the return of devolution.

At nursery level, the size and capacity of schools is almost unchanged. There has been a net decrease in the number of controlled and Catholic maintained primary schools – down by 57 and 30 respectively since 2003. The integrated and Irish medium school sectors have expanded – an increase of 10 and 11 schools respectively but there have been no additions in either category since 2012.

Among non-grammar post-primaries, the reduction in controlled schools is the most striking trend: down by 15 over the decade. The number of Catholic maintained non-grammars is also down – by eight – while there are two more integrated post-primaries.

Grammar schools have seen relatively little disruption i.e. consistently 17 controlled grammars and 22 non-Catholic voluntary grammars and just a small reduction (two) in the number of Catholic voluntary grammars. Among the smaller categories, the main trends are seven fewer special schools, the consolidation of three hospital schools into one, and a slight reduction (two) in the number of independents.

The Education and Skills Authority was due to undertake a strategic area plan for all parts of Northern Ireland. The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools went ahead with this exercise for its sector in the absence of political agreement. Area planning will now be taken forward by the new single education board – based on the above criteria – with the Minister still having the final say on a case-by-case basis.

Number of schools