Latest releases
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17 releases
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Huge support for all pupils having the option to wear trousers – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes the strongly positive response to a survey by the Education Committee on a plan guaranteeing all pupils the right to wear trousers, with about 98% in favour. She says the School Uniform Bill was a missed opportunity and calls for it to pass before next year's…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee survey on pupils' right to wear trousers Original release: Huge support for all pupils having the option to wear trousers – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Costs faced by families in schools must be reduced – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to move towards free school meals for all children, ahead of an Assembly debate on school meals. He also says he is bringing forward legislation to support families during school holidays.
Education Social security and welfare Issue: Assembly debate on school meals Original release: Costs faced by families in schools must be reduced – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Amendments to School Uniform Bill would benefit families and young people – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan has re-submitted amendments to the School Uniforms Bill to reduce family costs, proposing limits on branded items, generic alternatives, girls' right to wear trousers, support for children with additional needs, and uniform banks and swap schemes.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill amendments re-submitted in the Assembly Original release: Amendments to School Uniform Bill would benefit families and young people – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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‘No child should be priced out of a school because of the cost of a uniform’ – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says the School Uniforms Bill offers a chance to modernise uniform policy, and calls for proposals covering affordability, accessibility for children with special educational needs, and allowing girls to wear trousers.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill Education Committee sitting Original release: ‘No child should be priced out of a school because of the cost of a uniform’ – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin is committed to making school uniforms more affordable – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says his party will push to make school uniforms more affordable, calling for an end to single-supplier contracts, more flexibility to buy cheaper items, fewer branded items and enforceable guidance. He says the minister's proposed legislation needs strengthening through…
Education Issue: Post-committee proposals on school uniform affordability and legislation Original release: Sinn Féin is committed to making school uniforms more affordable – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Smartphones have no place in our schools
SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA calls for a ban on smartphones in schools, citing mounting evidence of harm to pupils and staff ahead of an Opposition motion in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Education Issue: SDLP Assembly motion on banning smartphones in schools Original release: Hunter: Smartphones have no place in our schools (opens in a new tab)
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Legislation to cut cost of school uniforms must be fit for purpose – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says parties must work together to make the school uniform legislation fit for purpose after the Assembly Education Committee took evidence from retailers. He calls for the bill to drop requirements for expensive branded items, particularly PE kit, and allow affordable…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Assembly Education Committee evidence session on school uniform costs legislation Original release: Legislation to cut cost of school uniforms must be fit for purpose – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Focus must now turn to ensuring reduction in school uniform costs, says Mathison.
Alliance education spokesperson and Strangford MLA Nick Mathison calls on the Department of Education to use responses to its school uniform policy consultation to draft legislation cutting parents' costs, backing a cost cap. He also urges schools and boards of governors to act now on branded PE…
Education Issue: School uniform policy consultation Original release: Focus must now turn to ensuring reduction in school uniform costs, says Mathison. (opens in a new tab)
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‘School uniforms must be more affordable for families’ – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason calls for school uniforms to be made more affordable for families after a credit union survey on back-to-school costs. She points to her party's Affordable Uniforms Bill, which would require competitive tendering, drop expensive branded items and allow high street…
Education Economy and employment Issue: Credit union annual school costs survey published Original release: ‘School uniforms must be more affordable for families’ – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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School uniforms must be more affordable – Mason bringing forward legislation to bring down uniform costs
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says she has tabled Assembly legislation to lower school uniform costs, proposing competitive tendering for suppliers, an end to mandatory branded items and acceptance of cheaper high street clothing.
Education Economy and employment Original release: School uniforms must be more affordable – Mason bringing forward legislation to bring down uniform costs (opens in a new tab)
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Mason urges parties to work together to cut school uniform costs
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says school uniforms and PE gear must be made cheaper for struggling families, and will bring an Assembly motion on the issue next Tuesday. She urges all parties, the education minister and schools to work together.
Education Economy and employment Original release: Mason urges parties to work together to cut school uniform costs (opens in a new tab)
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Disgrace parents still having to pay extortionate prices for school uniforms, says Mathison
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison says parents are facing extortionate school uniform prices again ahead of term and calls for a lasting fix, intending to introduce legislation on the issue once the Assembly returns. He also urges the DUP to end its boycott so the institutions can resume.
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Eastwood to bring forward Bill to improve schools' careers advice when Assembly returns
Alliance MLA Sorcha Eastwood plans to introduce a members' bill on schools' careers advice when the Assembly resumes, aiming for consistent, independent and specialised guidance for all pupils. She says current provision is a lottery and that teachers are expected to carry too much of the burden.
Education Economy and employment Original release: Eastwood to bring forward Bill to improve schools' careers advice when Assembly returns (opens in a new tab)
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An evidence-based RSE curriculum is what is best for our children and young people, says Egan
Alliance education spokesperson and North Down MLA Connie Egan calls for a standardised, inclusive, evidence-based RSE curriculum in schools, following an ETI report finding almost half of Northern Ireland schools teach little or nothing on consent, LGBTQ+ issues and related topics. She says she…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education and Training Inspectorate report on relationship and sexuality education Original release: An evidence-based RSE curriculum is what is best for our children and young people, says Egan (opens in a new tab)
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Reforming Relationships and Sex Education
The SDLP's release is titled "Reforming Relationships and Sex Education", but the text provided contains only the title, so it does not say what the party calls for or announces on the subject.
Education Original release: Reforming Relationships and Sex Education (opens in a new tab)
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Parents need Executive formed to help cut school uniform costs – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls for an Executive to be formed so a Sinn Féin plan can lower school uniform costs, urging legislation for competitive tendering, removal of branded requirements and use of cheaper high‑street alternatives, after welcoming the recent uniform grant increase.
Education Economy and employment Issue: Uniform grant increase Original release: Parents need Executive formed to help cut school uniform costs – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison: We must address school uniform hardship
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison calls for changes to school uniform pricing, saying community second-hand schemes are not sustainable. He says he will bring forward a Private Member's Bill at the first opportunity and blames the DUP's refusal to return to Executive work for greater hardship.
Education Economy and employment Original release: Mathison: We must address school uniform hardship (opens in a new tab)