To ask the Minister of Education why recommendations 5, 18, 21, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, and 39 of the Independent Review of Integrated Education have not been approved and actioned by her Department.

Further to the then Minister’s response to AQW 4074/22-27, it was a Ministerial decision that these recommendations were not approved therefore they would not be actioned by my Department.

In relation to the reasons the specific recommendations were not approved:

5 - there are already a range of surveys undertaken about the experiences of children and young people, including attitudinal information, and this is capable of being analysed by school type;

18 - the Education and Training Inspectorate self-evaluation framework for schools is not intended to be sector specific;

21 - the Association of Principals and Teachers in Integrated Schools – APTIS – is an established cross-phase association that meets regularly;

29, 30, 31, 32, and 39 – Fresh Start capital funding has specific and set parameters and the funding is fully committed;

34, 35, 36 – the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) runs an Excellence in Integrated Education Award for integrated schools; additionally, when its views were sought in 2020 by the then Minister, NICIE advised it did not consider the kitemark to be the most effective means of celebrating integrated success. These views formed part of the overall consideration of the recommendations contained in the Independent Review of Integrated Education report.