News

CCMS Welcomes Ministerial Announcement

CCMS Welcomes Ministerial Announcement

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools has welcomed today’s announcement by the Education Minister, Caitriona Ruane, on the future of post-primary education in Northern Ireland.

The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools has welcomed today’s announcement by the Education Minister, Caitriona Ruane, on the future of post-primary education in Northern Ireland.  

Commenting on the Ministers announcement, Mr Jim Clarke, Deputy Chief Executive of CCMS said:

The Council welcomes the direction of travel indicated in the Ministers statement to the Assembly. 

In particular, the clarity for pupils, parents and teachers in the primary sector on the ending of the Transfer Test now provides the flexibility to fully embrace the Revised Northern Ireland Curriculum. 

The Council recognises that further guidance will be required on the details of how new arrangement for transferring children at 11 and 14 will operate and how the schools can be structured to deliver for the educational needs of all children.

The Council agrees that 14 is a more appropriate age at which to make important subject and course choices and that the delivery of provision can vary to meet local circumstances under Area based Planning.

The changes being proposed are necessary to ensuring social and economic development by creating some of the conditions necessary for reducing the poverty gap and linking educational outcomes more closely to emerging economic needs.

The vision outlined today must help young people prepare for their futures by building on the excellence of our schools and teachers to meet the challenges in the 21st Century.  Council considers that the Ministers statement is the beginning of that journey.

 

 

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 For further information, please contact

Paul O’Connor

Communications Officer

Telephone     028 9039 3891

Email             pauloconnor@ccmsschools.com

 

 

Notes to Editors

 

About CCMS

  • The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools[CCMS] is the advocate for the Catholic Maintained schools sector in Northern Ireland.
  • Established under the auspices of1989 Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order, the Council’s primary purpose is the provision of an upper tier of management for the Catholic Maintained Sector with the primary objective of raising standards in Catholic Maintained Schools.
  • CCMS represents trustees, schools and governors on issues such as raising and maintaining standards, the school estate and teacher employment.
  • CCMS is the largest employer of teachers in Northern Ireland [8500 teachers]. 
  • CCMS plays a central role in supporting teachers whether through its welfare service or for example in working parties such as the Independent Inquiry into Teacher Pay and Conditions of Service.
  • CCMS supports trustees in the provision of school buildings and governors and principals in the effective management and control of schools.
  • CCMS also has a wider role within the Northern Ireland Education sector and contributes with Education partners to policy on a wide range of issues such as curriculum review, selection, pre-school education, pastoral care and leadership.

 

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