Post Primary Review

Frequently asked Questions

What schools are involved?

All Catholic-managed post-primary schools, both secondary and grammar, are involved. The schools and their projects are available to view on our Projects section of the website.

Why were parents not involved in this process?

The options and proposals for each area have been considered and developed over a long period of consultation with the principals of all the post-primary schools, with representatives of school governors and with Trustees. This is normal practice in respect of the development of options for changes to education in an area. The options are now being presented to parents, staff and pupils so that they can comment on those options or suggest other options for an area.

Who was involved in the process?

Post-primary school principals, Chairs of Governors of post-primary schools and school Trustees.

Are public meetings with parents planned?

Public meetings with parents are not planned. This stage of the consultation is asking for views on initial options. All views will be considered and analysed to form a report for the area. Public meetings with parents would be held if a firm recommendation for change is being consulted on. At this stage no firm recommendation or decisions about any option for change have been made.

When does the consultation close?

The consultation closes on the 31^st May 2010

How can I respond?

You can respond by filling out the response form in each of the documents, by email or in hard copy. You can also respond directly through the Consultation section of our website which will be available shortly. You can also respond by writing or emailing us directly without using the response form.

How can I access the project documents?

Post-primary and primary schools will distribute the documents to the parents of pupils in their schools. The documents will also be available to download online over the coming weeks.

What will happen after this consultation?

When the consultation closes on the 31^st May, all responses for each project will be analysed and a report completed for each project and for the whole Catholic-managed sector. After approval by the project board for each project, these reports will be made available. The reports will set out the next steps for each area and will also set out the process for further consultation.

How will our responses be analysed?

All responses will be analysed for each project area, and across project areas. The analysis will take note of the arguments put forward in support of each option as well as in opposition to an option. The numbers expressing support/opposition for each option will also be recorded. Where alternative options are proposed, these will be analysed for compatibility with the key principles and how they address the key challenges.

The Trustees will consider the responses and decide on a preferred option/proposal for each area. This will then be subject to further consultation.

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The Structures

The Trustees will plan for the future through the structures set out below:

A Regional Programme Board

This Board has been established by the Trustees as part of the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education. This Board has developed the agreed core principles and it works to ensure a strategic and coherent approach across the Catholic-managed sector. The membership of this Board represents all Diocesan and Religious Congregations who provide post-primary schools in Northern Ireland.

Diocesan Programme Board

The Trustees manage the planning in any area through Diocesan Programme Boards. This Board includes representatives from all the Trustee groupings who provide schools within a particular Diocese. This group has agreed the number of and sequencing of projects as well as the project boundaries.

Local Project Board

The Trustees manage the identification and implementation of any adaptations or alternative arrangements to post-primary educational provision in the Catholic-managed Sector by means of projects operating at a local level.

Each project will have a Project Board made up of Trustee representatives to reflect each of the Trustee groupings involved. These groups have managed the launch of the projects and will make a decision on any preferred option for the delivery of post-primary education within project areas. They will be complemented and assisted by a User Group comprising Governors and a Working Group comprising Principals of the schools involved.

Working Group

The Working Groups comprise of Principals of the schools involved. They are currently reviewing the delivery of post-primary education in the project areas and will design options and plans for the future to address the challenges facing post-primary education. This is being done in close collaboration and consultation with the other sectors and providers. This approach ensures that diverse models of provision which meet the needs of the pupils who attend the schools involved in the project can be developed.

User Group

The User Group comprises of Chairs of Boards of Governors. The design options which reflect the project's principles will be considered by the User Group and then submitted to the Local Project Board. They will, in turn, examine the desired or proposed option in the light of the agreed core principles.

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