With the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and the creation of a Northern Ireland Assembly, the new Council embraced the optimism of a new future and a commitment to further raising the benchmark of standards within the Catholic Maintained Sector.
With a new political and social landscape evolving the Council of 1997 immediatelyfocussed its attention on progressing the recommendations of the ‘Achievements Working Group’ and in particular the area of selection.
Perhaps two important pieces of work were undertaken by the Council during this period on selection. In 1998 the Council published ‘Selection, a Considered Perspective’ and ‘Selection a Position Statement’. In the latter paper, the Council called for a research programme in respect of selection.
The impact of these two reports encouraged the Department of Education to initiate a review programme which culminated in the Gallagher & Smith Report. Their report reiterated the view already expressed by the Council in its 1998 Position Paper, which called for any future debate to be couched in terms of ‘fitness for purpose’ rather than a precipitive discussion on structured tones.
The publication of ‘Partnership for Quality’ in 1999, served to continue the progress already made in raising standards within Catholic Maintained Education. This document explored the professional aspects of teaching and principalship and the interaction between the teaching community and Governors.
Another milestone in education was the development of the Teacher Welfare Service, the first service of its kind in Northern Ireland. The Welfare service provided an invaluable support network for addressing the health and wellbeing of teachers through policies and guidance for schools.
With the new century came fresh challenges and a new vigour to push forward the agenda of ending selection. The Council continued to play a vigorous role as advocate for the Catholic Maintained Sector in educational, social and other contexts.
The Council responded to the public consultation on the Burns Report ‘Education for the 21st Century’ on behalf of the trustees and principals. This emerged after significant debate within the Council and its partners and gave a very clear endorsement of a way forward for Catholic Education. The Council called for an end to Selection and for the creation of local solutions. These solutions they recommendation might be in the form of campus arrangements based on an agreed policy framework which would reflect equity of access to high quality provision and to a reasonable choice of educational routes, subjects and courses.
