Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education: Post Primary Review

All Ireland Primate Cardinal Séan Brady today urged all those charged with planning education to move beyond the tired, narrow focus on academic selection and consider the full range of challenges facing post primary education in Northern Ireland.

Cardinal Brady was speaking at the launch of the Commission’s consultation on the future of Post Primary Education at St Catherine’s College, Armagh.

The document ‘Catholic Education For All’ outlines the core principles which will continue to underpin the delivery of Catholic Post Primary education in the future.  The Post Primary Review was launched in 2006, has worked with Trustees and Principals of every Catholic Post Primary school in Northern Ireland on options for the way forward for 16 distinct areas across the region. All options and proposals for future provision in each area will be published in the next four weeks.

Gerry Lundy, Director of the Post Primary Review said: “Catholic schools have a long established tradition of providing education to young people. The sector has always adapted to change and this consultation is the beginning of a process which will ensure every school meets the education and pastoral needs of those attending now and in the future.”

“Among the challenges faced by the Post Primary sector are declining demographics, the debate over the ending of academic selection, changes in the curriculum as well as the development of area-based planning. This consultation, which is the biggest ever undertaken by Catholic Trustees in Northern Ireland, includes options and proposals which will address these challenges.

“We now want to hear from parents, teachers and staff in all our Catholic  schools  as well as from other schools and school sectors  and indeed from anyone who has an interest in the delivery of our children’s education.  We welcome views and considerations on our options or any other options or proposals which might address the challenges facing post-primary education. When completed the outcome of the consultation will be shared with our schools and their communities as well as the Department of Education and other education stakeholders,” he added.

Copies of the document will be distributed to the parents in feeder primary schools as well as teachers, principals, governors and other school staff.  A parallel consultation with Post Primary school students will also take place.

Click here to download Catholic Education for all- Shaping the future of post-primary Catholic education.