Paul Givan
Lagan Valley · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“The EA's enhanced support model has been out for consultation. The Member's party is the largest political grouping on the Education Authority, so his party supported the model's being consulted on.”
“Protections around strike action and action short of strike are firmly established in statute for all workers, including teachers. If the Member is referring to the Education Inspections Bill, let me be clear: nothing in that legislation removes or undermines that right.”
“The issue was covered at length at the Education Committee. The position is still not where it ought to be. When I came into office, the position that I inherited was much worse than it is today.”
“It is an area that I have had to navigate, as have many previous Education Ministers. Industrial relations is an area that needs ongoing work. I have outlined how we can address it, but I come back to saying that, when workload was undefined, trade unions struggled to specify the challenge.”
“That is not a fair characterisation. In fact, I was with Justin McCamphill, the leader of NASUWT, at the launch of the curriculum reform, at which he commended me for it and said that he thought that it was good. I have sat in many a meeting with trade union representatives during which they have said, "This is a good initiative.”
“That is exactly why there is a 16-week consultation period, rather than the normal 12 weeks or the minimum eight weeks; to allow the public and teaching profession to very much engage in that curriculum, which I commend to all Members.”
The complete record
Every one of 6,258 lines we hold for Paul Givan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 60 of 126.
“My Department is in daily contact with the Education Authority through the school admissions process to ensure that all parents nominate a school for their child and that places are available for those children. Fewer than five preschool target-age children whose parents fully engaged with the admissions process have not yet secured a place. Sufficient funded places remain available for those children, though. No child whose parents applied to P1 still needs to secure a place, while there are nine children who applied to year 8 who still need to secure a place. <BR /> <BR />Parents of those children were advised at the end of the admissions process in May how they could nominate further preferences, and they were directed to a list of schools with places available.”
“There certainly will not be any differential treatment, irrespective of the type of school. Those in a special school or those in mainstream education who have additional educational needs should all receive the appropriate support. Again, the minimum curriculum content is an entitlement, and I therefore do not expect there to be any difference in the approach taken on such issues.”
“Schools will develop their proposals and policies in that area, and I have highlighted ways in which they can do that. The EA and my Department provide guidance, and I intend to update that guidance. There is also material available from CCEA. The school principal should be capable of navigating the area and making sure that the school is teaching the subject, including the minimum requirements that are set out in the curriculum, while boards of governors should very much be able to do that in conjunction with their principal but also by engaging with and listening to pupils so that, as it is delivered, RSE reflects the issues that pupils want to discuss.”
“I thank the Member for that question. RSE is a compulsory element of the curriculum, and, in post-primary schools, it is covered under the personal development aspect of learning for life and work. The Member highlights the fact that there is no evidence to suggest that a one-size-fits-all approach delivers a more effective curriculum. That is why we have flexibility in our curriculum, so that schools can reflect the issues that are current and that their pupils will want to engage with. RSE helps children and young people acquire age-appropriate knowledge and skills. It helps them develop attitudes, beliefs and values. The Member rightly highlights the point that that is done under the RSE policy developed by the school and that the school can discuss issues in a way that reflects its ethos.”
“We will also engage with the Gillen review implementation group in developing the strategy in respect of domestic and sexual violence. As we do that, it will be important that resources align as part of that work.”
“I thank the Member for raising that, because that was an Executive policy and strategy that I was pleased to see come through and that I supported, particularly the component that relates to education. There is a responsibility across many aspects of society to engage on the issue. Certainly, I will ensure that my Department engages. <BR /> <BR />As we welcome the approval of the strategic framework, there is a need to take forward the action plan. It brings into sharp focus my Department's responsibilities, and we will consider how the curriculum can support the wider strategy, because schools have an important role to play in addressing those issues. My Department is establishing an oversight group with key partners to respond to the year 1 action plan.”
“The resources provide content that can be used or built upon and are designed to offer schools flexibility in their approach to the delivery of RSE. That approach is intended to enable all schools to deliver effective programmes in line with the particular ethos and RSE policy of the school and to ensure that the wide-ranging needs of our young people are met. <BR /> <BR />Schools are, of course, free to use materials from other sources, and some schools have developed in-house resources together with pupils. The Department would encourage schools to consider that model, provided that they are satisfied that the materials support teaching of the minimum content. Beyond that, the flexibility in our curriculum empowers schools to tailor their approach to teaching and the use of resources to meet the needs of their pupils.”
“The curriculum provides opportunities to educate young people to develop healthy relationships. Pupils have the opportunity to explore their management of a range of feelings and emotions and those of others, initiating, developing and sustaining mutually satisfying relationships; explore the qualities of a loving, respectful relationship; and develop coping strategies to deal with challenging relationship scenarios. The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) relationships and sexuality education (RSE) hub ensures that schools have access to a range of up-to-date, relevant resources. Teachers can download guidance documents and existing resources as well as new RSE resources that CCEA has developed to help teachers to address sensitive issues with their pupils.”
“There are many factors, and social disadvantage is one of them. However, there is indisputable evidence that Protestant working-class communities are more educationally disadvantaged than any other community, and therefore the Member would be wrong to imply that somehow there is not an issue when it comes to community background because there is. That is why we need to make the appropriate interventions. However, those interventions will take place in all communities, and it is important that the RAISE programme, when we get it up and running, will benefit everybody in Northern Ireland.”
“We need to get back to a place where we are able to assess that and provide support to our teaching profession for their continued professional development.”
“Obviously, the RAISE programme is one such area. We will want to measure the interventions to ensure that they are effective. There will be a role for the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) in that. As we stand up and develop the programmes, we will need to assess them. In identifying areas, the key component in the criteria was educational disadvantage and outcomes. That was the basis on which we selected the areas to take forward. <BR /> <BR />We are always measuring output. We look at, for example, academic achievement in schools. That is information that we are able to look at. I am keen to provide greater assessment not just of qualifications and results but of the teaching that takes place in our schools.”
“I thank the Member for raising that issue. Obviously, the Executive agreed the £25 million for early years education. We have been able to roll out the Northern Ireland childcare subsidy, which is an excellent initiative that is already providing support to hard-working families. <BR /> <BR />I want to take forward the wider work of developing a comprehensive strategy, looking at what support can be provided from age nought. We are collecting data and information that will inform the longer-term strategy. Of course that is one of the areas that I want to see supported. I am delighted that we have been able to stand up a scheme and provide critical support to those hard-working families.”
“I will take away the names of the schools that he has highlighted and look into the issue. Fifteen localities across Northern Ireland are taking part in that project. The scheme provides a really good opportunity for not just Belfast — there is significant support in Belfast — but every part of Northern Ireland to benefit. I hope that we will be in a position to formally launch the programme in the next number of weeks. I look forward to doing that. The infrastructure around the working groups is being established. Appointments have already been made. We will get on with taking it forward. We need to hit the ground running because there is funding that is available to us. I will, of course, come back to the Member in writing about the particular issue that he raised.”
“It is my job as the Minister of Education to support them, and I will continue to champion their needs around the Executive table.”
“I thank the Member for his comments about the successful negotiation that settled the pay dispute for our support staff. He rightly acknowledges the critical work that support staff do. They are invaluable in our schools and across the education system. It was as a result of the work that we were able to take forward in the Department, supported by Executive colleagues, that a fair settlement was reached. It will lead to a significant pay rise for all our support staff and a lump sum payment of £2,550 for full-time equivalents in April next year. <BR /> <BR />The Member highlights the leadership of our principals. I see that in countless schools that I have visited, not least those in the Member's constituency, where he has had me out to a number of schools. Principals do incredible work.”
“The extended schools programme continues to support disadvantaged pupils before and after school, and I recently announced that funding for this year will continue at the same level as last year, at £8·1 million. More recently, my announcement about the RAISE programme, in May of this year, was focused on raising achievement and addressing educational disadvantage. Shared Island Fund funding of £20 million, over two years, is enabling that work to continue at pace across 15 areas. The engagement process involving all stakeholders in each locality will begin this autumn.”
“<BR /> <BR />In north Belfast, the full service programme involving both Model post-primary schools has been operating since 2006 and is an integral part of how those two schools support their learners from year 8 onwards. The work involves support at transition from year 7 to year 8; support for attendance, emotional health and well-being; parental engagement; revision classes; and much more. <BR /> <BR />Other examples of support include the actions in 'A Fair Start'. Those actions include the Horizons programme, which is a two-year developmental youth leadership programme for boys and girls. To date, over 400 young people have engaged in and completed vocational development through the Horizons programme.”
“I am aware of the continued challenges around underachievement associated with Protestant boys who are entitled to free school meals (FSM). My Department is supporting working-class Protestant boys in a variety of ways. As part of the investment made in schools via the common funding formula, £75 million is provided through targeting social need (TSN), which is based on the number of free school meals-entitled (FSME) pupils in a school. That significant investment provides for literacy and numeracy support across all Key Stages and addresses complex and challenging needs. FSME boys are one of a number of targeted groups that are benefiting from that substantial investment.”
“It does not rest exclusively and entirely on my Department — it sits with other Departments — so there is a responsibility on all of us to get this right for those who need it most.”
“I agree entirely with the Member. As part of the end-to-end review of special education, we have identified a number of the key challenges relating to post-school options. They include the lack of available places and the imperfect planning complexities around individual needs. Those responses will inform the future direction of the transition-planning process to ensure that we are best supporting children and young people's statements of SEN. Again, I highlight that this is an issue for my Department, the Department for the Economy and the Department of Health. Three key Departments are involved, and they all need to be moving in the same direction and providing support at the right stage.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important that, post 19, legal responsibility sits with the Department for the Economy. In one respect, it is a compliment to the Department of Education that Members believe that it is best placed to provide that support to people, post 19 — I appreciate that — but we should not get lost in the debate around whether it is the Department of Education or the Department for the Economy. There is legal support that both Departments should be providing at the appropriate point at which people reach that age. I want to make sure that the transition process is working properly, but I do not believe that it is working as well as it should.”
“The Member rightly highlights how some parents have had to robustly challenge the lack of support that they have received when statements of special educational needs have been provided. The outworking of the end-to-end review that the Department is taking forward — I hope to be able to outline some further progress on that — is to try to get to the point where people do not need to receive a legal statement, which they can then take to court, challenge and hold to account the authorities that are responsible. We should provide the support without the need for statements, but that support is not being provided. That is why people go down the route of receiving a statement. There are thousands of children who do not have a statement. We have a responsibility to make sure that we provide for them.”
“I assure the Member that I am very committed to working with my colleagues, and I have highlighted how we are doing that and that, when it comes to the transition years, the appropriate support will be provided by those with the responsibility to do it.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is very important that, wherever legal responsibility rests, whether it is in my Department for people up to the age of 19 or in other Departments post-19, the transition process should be seamless. It should not require a legal responsibility that comes from my Department to make sure that other Departments are doing the job that they need to do. The public expects, particularly the affected children and their families, that all Departments collectively make sure that we can help throughout the years up to age 25. In other jurisdictions, there is a legal right for that help up to age 25.”
“The Member highlights the issues that constituents have presented, and I have met constituents, as has the Member. I absolutely recognise the concerns about receiving support, given that young people have come through the education system, for which there is a legal entitlement up to the age of 19. That legal responsibility is then with the Department for the Economy through further and higher education, and various supports come through different workplace schemes that try to help people into employment. Some projects in Lisburn, like Stepping Stones and others, do excellent work, and they link that work with that of the Department for the Economy.”
“The transitions working group includes representation from the Education Authority (EA), the Public Health Agency (PHA) and officials from the Departments for Communities and the Department for the Economy.”
“I am committed to ensuring that young people with statements of special educational needs are supported in their transition from school to adulthood. My officials are working closely with colleagues across the Department for the Economy, the Department of Health and the Department for Communities as part of the end-to-end review of special educational needs in order to develop and enhance clear and appropriate pathways for young people who are transitioning from education to adulthood. Transitions is one of 12 workstreams in the end-to-end review, and to further that work, my Department and the Department of Health jointly chair a transitions working group that specifically aims to understand the experiences and perceptions of the transitions planning process.”
“We are well off the topic of the substantive question; nevertheless, I will do my best to provide an answer. <BR /> <BR />Members previously raised the issue of that funding. I moved quickly to secure funding allocations for integrated schools. We moved those school projects into the main capital projects of the Department, and we have been able to advance a number of them. I reassure the Member that those school projects are being taken forward by my main capital project team. Obviously, we were able to secure funding for the shared education facility in Omagh. I visited that just last week, as we have now moved into the contract phase, and the construction phase can commence in due course.”
“Work is ongoing to audit the special schools estate to identify the capacity issues and how to enhance the schools, and there has been really good progress. I am more than happy to provide the Member with a further update in writing, in which I will detail how that work is progressing.”
“The Member and his colleagues have had me in Upper Bann on a number of occasions, and Portadown College is one of the schools that I was able to visit. It was one of the seven post-primary schools that I announced could proceed to the appointment of an integrated consultant team. In the coming weeks, that ICT should be appointed. That will allow the planning for that project to commence.”
“The Member has, rightly, outlined how CCMS seeks to increase the approved admissions and enrolment numbers — currently 80 and 440 in total — through the development proposal process. When that works its way through, it will come to me for a decision. In the interim, the school can continue to request additional places on an annual basis through the temporary variation process until the DP is brought forward and a decision can be taken.”
“In addition, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), as the planning and managing authority for the school, has indicated that it will seek to increase the admissions and enrolment numbers at the college through the development proposal (DP) process. That will be key to informing a future major capital works project.”
“Dean Maguirc College was one of 28 schools included in the announcement on the major capital works programme in March 2022. Due to the extremely challenging capital budget, all those projects were put on hold in April 2023. In February 2024, I was pleased to announce that seven of those projects would proceed immediately, with the appointment of integrated consultant teams (ICTs). Due to ongoing budget constraints and the need to prioritise capital works for special educational needs placements, the remaining projects remain on hold. I will continue to keep those projects, including that for Dean Maguirc College, under review.”
“I am committed to working alongside the Minister and colleagues to find solutions. In Lagan Valley, the public expect us to not just point out the problem but to identify the solution.”
“Are we ever going to have a publicly funded bypass put in place there? I would certainly support one, but I also know the significant expenditure that would be involved. <BR /> <BR />My colleague Jonathan Buckley and I were at the public meeting in Hillsborough, and he addressed those who were in attendance. We recognised the frustration that residents were expressing about future housing development. There is a balance to be struck when it comes to allowing development in certain areas if you know that doing so will increase demand on an already overstretched roads network. It is about how we make that safe for people. <BR /> <BR />Those are the challenges. I know that the Minister will want to support us in Lagan Valley to try to address some of those issues. There has been good work and there are challenges that remain.”
“On the one hand, I agree with that practice but, on the other hand, it adds to the cost of purchasing a house. We need to look at the balance between developer-led and publicly funded schemes. <BR /> <BR />To the credit of DFI Roads and the Department for Infrastructure, I think of the Ballinderry Road/Lissue Road/Moneybroom Road crossroads. That was a dangerous junction, but DFI Roads stepped in, widened it and significantly improved it to provide safety. There are examples where the taxpayer has stepped in and changes have been made. However, I share the frustration when I see the daily commute through Moira to Magheralin, Dollingstown and on into Lurgan. I think of the lost opportunity to have a bypass put in place in Moira, given the significant increase in housing there.”
“At Prince William Road/Ballymacash Road, only in the past number of weeks, another major scheme has been completed, and we then tied that into a housing development in the Ballymacash area so that that could be achieved. <BR /> <BR />Therefore, whilst I certainly agree that there are traffic problems in the Lagan Valley constituency, it is about how you go about finding solutions. I have worked over the years with colleagues to get those solutions, but more needs to be achieved. I look at those three major junction improvements and at the north Lisburn feeder road, which was put in many years ago. All of those were funded by developer-led contributions. None of them was funded by the taxpayer. Therefore, the question and the challenge, I think, is to find out why developers are funding all these schemes.”
“<BR /> <BR />Over the years, we engaged to try to get those junctions improved, and I remember going past that Ballinderry Road junction after a gentleman had just been knocked over and, sadly, passed away. I can visualise that body as I drove past, frustrated that we still had not improved that junction. We got the junction improved. We worked with the Roads Service, as it was then called, and it worked with the developer and designed a scheme. Traffic lights were put in, and the junction was much safer. Then we got to working on the Prince William Road/Knockmore Road junction beside Laurelhill Community College. That was a multimillion-pound enhancement, and we got it delivered.”
“Part of the condition that was attached to that was the improvement of junctions. The Ballinderry Road/Knockmore Road crossroads, the Prince William Road/Knockmore Road junction and the Ballymacash Road/Prince William Road/Knockmore Road junction were three significant junctions that were tied into conditions for that development, but those conditions were not enforced. This goes back to when I met Danny Kennedy, who was the Minister at the time, and I was not able to get the progress that was needed back then. That is how far back it goes. Houses continued to be developed despite being in breach of that condition, and the planning authority was not enforcing it. It then transferred to the councils, which took on responsibility. They did not enforce the conditions. There was an exponential increase in traffic volumes.”
“In speaking on the issue, although I will highlight some concerns, I will point to where significant progress has been made in Lagan Valley over the years. Of course, there have been fatalities, and with each of those is a family that has been deeply impacted. People have been seriously injured on our roads throughout the Lagan Valley constituency. It is about how we seek to find the solutions by working with the Department for Infrastructure and community organisations and how new housing areas are developed and developer-led schemes are tied in. <BR /> <BR />When I was first elected in 2010 and spoke in the House, one of the biggest areas that we campaigned on was the LD1 development zone in Lisburn. That was along the Prince William Road/Knockmore Road, where thousands of houses were given planning approval.”
“They are our classroom assistants, our catering staff and our bus drivers. I trust that the outworking of the ballot will be successful, and then we can implement the new arrangement.”
“Subject to that positive response, stage 1 of the process will see an investment of £52 million this year. That will move everyone on to their new pay scale and will take effect from 1 April. I have been working with the Finance Minister on it, and we will seek Executive approval to meet that investment from the June monitoring round. The second stage of the process is a non-consolidated payment to those staff who have been in post from 1 April 2024. It goes back to April 2022. That will be in the region of £80 million and will lead to a £2,550 payment. That will be welcomed by all members. Those staff are incredibly important to the education system.”
“I was delighted that we had significant progress on the negotiations that took place. I met the trade unions early when I took up office. I indicated my willingness to engage in partnership, because the issues that affect the trade unions affect and concern me. We therefore have had a constructive relationship. We engaged in good faith, and they called off their further planned industrial action. Subsequently, a package is now being consulted on within the trade union membership. I hope that that will be successful.”
“The overwhelming majority of schools follow the existing guidance, but I have given my support to putting that guidance on a statutory footing and ensuring that it is relevant and up to date. We are also seeking views on what a capped cost would look like. The consultation is an opportunity for the public to engage with that process.”
“It has been taken forward at pace. I instructed officials to carry out the consultation, and work was undertaken to pull all the information together. It is out now for consultation. I want to have proposals brought to me by 30 October. That will allow me to look at the current guidance. It will also allow me to take forward the engagement that I need to have with Executive colleagues on the shape of the legislation. It is important because I have said that it is a priority for me, but, more importantly, the financial costs associated with school uniforms are the number-one issue that comes through in every parent and stakeholder engagement. At a time when cost-of-living pressures are really squeezing people's incomes, we need to ensure that we do everything possible to support families.”
“The Member will know that there is provision for people to engage online with that consultation. Recognising that there has to be more detailed engagement with children and young people, the Education Authority will take forward stakeholder engagement events to ensure that the voices of children and young people are heard as part of that process.”
“It is not acceptable to me that the controlled sector does not get the support that is required. I am determined that change will happen in that area.”
“One of the first steps that can be taken is for a specific directorate to be created in the Education Authority, because it is the managing authority for controlled schools. The EA has that particular function. It is not the managing authority for all schools. Members will know that CCMS is the managing authority for the Catholic maintained sector. Then, we have other sectors that exist for the various needs in the education system, but controlled schools sit within the remit of the EA as the managing authority. I want to see that change; I want to have a managing authority for controlled schools. <BR /> <BR />Members will know from their experience in their constituencies — certainly, I do — of the frustration in many controlled schools at the lack of support that, they feel, exists when it comes to dealing with issues.”
“The Member has articulated the issues well, and I agree with her entirely. Therefore, recognising the concerns that were highlighted by the independent review panel, I am committed to ensuring that the controlled sector is given the support that it requires. I have asked officials, working with the Education Authority and the Controlled Schools' Support Council, to undertake some initial analysis to help me determine how best to proceed. I expect to receive that advice shortly, after which I will bring forward proposals outlining how I plan to address the findings of the independent review. I assure the Member that, while that is a priority area for me, it is important to take time to ensure that the solutions that we put in place are effective and capable of delivering real change.”
“I have approved the enhanced summer scheme provisions. Despite all the financial pressures that my Department faces, that funding will be made available and those schemes will be able to go ahead. I know that that is important to many families. I also want to take forward those capital programmes. I visited the Member's constituency, and we have looked at some of the schools there. We are taking forward that capital programme. If I can secure additional funding in the June monitoring round, I will be able to update the Member and the House on where I am able to allocate funding in due course.”