Closest matches to “New Structures Must Support Not Undermine the Controlled Sector”
From other parties, ranked by how close their text is in meaning. Close in meaning is not the same as agreeing. Include UUP · Back to the release
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Dedicated Controlled Schools’ Unit launched
DUP Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the Education Authority’s new Controlled Schools’ Unit, the first phase of a task‑force‑recommended two‑stage plan to give dedicated support and management to Northern Ireland’s controlled school sector.
Education Original release: Dedicated Controlled Schools’ Unit launched (opens in a new tab)
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Chair announced to bring forward controlled schools management…
The DUP reports that Education Minister Paul Givan has set up a delivery and implementation group, chaired by Mark Baker, to develop a management authority supporting the controlled schools sector. Proposals are due by the end of December 2024.
Education Issue: Controlled schools management authority delivery and implementation group established Original release: Chair announced to bring forward controlled schools management… (opens in a new tab)
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Expansion of integrated education on North Coast immensely welcome, says Mathison
Alliance education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA welcomes the Department of Education's approval of a merged integrated secondary in Coleraine, combining three existing schools with Ulster University involvement. He says concerns about the site must be considered and urges ministers to move the…
Education Issue: Department of Education approval of Coleraine integrated post-primary merger Original release: Expansion of integrated education on North Coast immensely welcome, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must act to review current RE legislation following Supreme Court Ruling, says Mathison
Alliance Education Spokesperson and Education Committee Chair Nick Mathison MLA calls on the Education Minister to issue prompt guidance to schools after a Supreme Court judgment on religious education and worship, and says the legislation should be reviewed to comply with it.
Education Issue: Supreme Court ruling on mandatory Christian worship in NI schools Original release: Education Minister must act to review current RE legislation following Supreme Court Ruling, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Right to withdraw from RSE provisions must be respected and not…
DUP MP Carla Lockhart, ahead of an adjournment debate on RSE in Northern Ireland schools, says the right to withdraw children must be respected and not restricted. She calls for conscientious objection provision for teachers and says school ethos should not be dictated from Belfast or London.
Education Issue: Northern Ireland RSE curriculum adjournment debate at Westminster Original release: Right to withdraw from RSE provisions must be respected and not… (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds stresses need for proper Education funding
DUP Education spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says the Independent Review of Education panel was told Education budgets are underfunded, citing real-terms cuts of around £150 million and calling for Education to be treated as 'mission critical'. She also highlights rising Special Educational Needs…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Independent Review of Education panel meeting on school funding Original release: Dodds stresses need for proper Education funding (opens in a new tab)
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Controlled schools need fairly funded from NIO – Campbell
DUP MP Gregory Campbell calls for a review of Northern Ireland Office education funding, arguing that controlled schools that are already naturally integrated in pupil intake are being overlooked in favour of integrated schools. He says funding should be fair and evidence-based across all sectors.
Education Public finance and taxation Original release: Controlled schools need fairly funded from NIO – Campbell (opens in a new tab)
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"The existence of “Christian-Focused Religious Education” as a choice, offered to parents, enriches our pluralistic society."
Aontú's Brolly rejects a University of Ulster UNESCO Education Centre research paper that criticises Christian-focused religious education, arguing it lacks evidence and that parental choice should be protected under human rights law.
Education Issue: University of Ulster report on repealing Christian-focused religious education in schools Original release: "The existence of “Christian-Focused Religious Education” as a choice, offered to parents, enriches our pluralistic society." (opens in a new tab)
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Buckley warns of further trade barriers
DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley says sweeping EU reforms risk adding customs paperwork, tariffs and bureaucracy that could further separate trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, harming firms and supply chains, and calls for thorough scrutiny and a Unionist response.
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: UK-EU trade agreement renegotiation Original release: Buckley warns of further trade barriers (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must provide guidance for schools following Supreme Court judgement, says Mathison
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA urges the Education Minister to issue guidance for schools on religious education following the Supreme Court ruling that current RE provision is not critical, objective or pluralistic. He says the aim is inclusive schools that respect both…
Education Issue: Judgement on Religious Education and Christian teaching in schools Original release: Education Minister must provide guidance for schools following Supreme Court judgement, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds – Christian ethos of schools must be protected
DUP Education Spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says the Christian ethos of post‑primary schools must be protected and calls for parental opt‑out rights, teacher conscience safeguards and governor involvement in the Department of Education’s RSE consultation that would make abortion compulsory teaching.
Education Issue: Department of Education RSE consultation on abortion teaching Original release: Dodds – Christian ethos of schools must be protected (opens in a new tab)
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Real integration must be about outcomes, not labels – Middleton
DUP MLA Julie Middleton says Sinn Féin and Alliance should engage with the evidence and Court of Appeal rulings on Education Minister Paul Givan's integrated education policy, arguing that reasonable numbers of both traditions are a legal requirement for transformation. She says only 2 of 33…
Education Issue: Integrated education transformation criteria and Court of Appeal ruling debate Original release: Real integration must be about outcomes, not labels – Middleton (opens in a new tab)
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Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion
Alliance education spokesperson Nick Mathison, Strangford MLA, says the Education Minister's TransformED reforms are adding unsustainable workload for teachers during an industrial dispute, and calls for them not to be rushed ahead of an Assembly motion on the issue.
Education Issue: TransformED education reforms announcement Original release: Minister putting unsustainable additional workload on teachers, says Mathison, ahead of TransformED motion (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Allister blasts RE judgement and calls on Education Minister to protect the Christian ethos in schools
TUV MP Jim Allister criticises a recent judgement on Religious Education, rejecting the term 'indoctrination' for Christian teaching in schools and claiming it favours non-Christian parents' rights over Christian parents'. He calls on the Education Minister to set out immediately how Christian…
Education Issue: Judgement on Religious Education and Christian teaching in schools Original release: Allister blasts RE judgement and calls on Education Minister to protect the Christian ethos in schools (opens in a new tab)
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Ratcliffe reacts to Supreme Court judgement on RE
TUV councillor Keith Ratcliffe says the Supreme Court RE judgement has not changed the law requiring Scriptural, Christian-rooted religious education in controlled schools. He urges the Education Minister to reaffirm that requirement and opposes any move towards a neutral or multi-faith model.
Education Issue: Supreme Court ruling on mandatory Christian worship in NI schools Original release: Ratcliffe reacts to Supreme Court judgement on RE (opens in a new tab)
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Allister highlights legal duty on schools relating to religious education
TUV leader Jim Allister opposes a University of Ulster report, funded by the Integrated Education Fund, that calls for repealing the requirement for Christian-focused religious education and worship in schools. He says he has tabled a question asking the Education Minister to commit to keeping the…
Education Issue: University of Ulster report on repealing Christian-focused religious education in schools Original release: Allister highlights legal duty on schools relating to religious education (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister’s support for children with Special Educational…
East Antrim DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee welcomes Education Minister Paul Givan's announcement of a Special Educational Needs Capital Investment Programme, saying the four‑strand plan on maintenance, equipment, specialist provisions and new schools will create a fairer, more inclusive environment for SEN
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Minister announces SEN Capital Investment Programme Original release: Education Minister’s support for children with Special Educational… (opens in a new tab)
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Ongoing erosion of Further Education should not be allowed to occur without public scrutiny says Eastwood
Alliance Economy Spokesperson Sorcha Eastwood says proposed redundancies and campus closures at South Eastern Regional College should not proceed without public scrutiny, arguing the Assembly lacks functioning ministerial and committee structures to examine them.
Education Economy and employment Issue: South Eastern Regional College proposed redundancy scheme Original release: Ongoing erosion of Further Education should not be allowed to occur without public scrutiny says Eastwood (opens in a new tab)
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Gaston raises concerns about Palestinian protest with Education Minister
TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston says he will table questions for the Education Minister after parents complained about pro‑Palestine protests and the NASUWT’s ‘Stand for Palestine’ vigils in schools, calling the activities inappropriate and demanding guidance on political impartiality.
Education International affairs Issue: Pro‑Palestine protests in Ballycastle schools Original release: Gaston raises concerns about Palestinian protest with Education Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Hunter: Reforms must have buy-in from education sector
SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA says planned education reforms need the confidence of schools and buy-in from the sector, and that the Education Minister must show how changes to SEN provision will improve outcomes. She warns against using reforms as leverage in a dispute…
Education Issue: Education Minister's consultation on five-year budget strategy Original release: Hunter: Reforms must have buy-in from education sector (opens in a new tab)
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Mathison welcomes education report but says change only possible if Minister in post
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA welcomes the independent review of education and its emphasis on investment, integrated schooling, SEN support and transfer reform, but says change needs an Education Minister in post and blames the DUP for the delay.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Independent Review of Education report launch Original release: Mathison welcomes education report but says change only possible if Minister in post (opens in a new tab)
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High Court ruling brings clarity to Integrated transformation…
DUP MLA David Brooks says the High Court ruling on two north Down schools' bids to become integrated is significant, clarifying the criteria for transformation. He stresses it concerns the legal definition of integrated education and the 'reasonable numbers' test, not the schools' quality, and…
Education Issue: High Court ruling on north Down schools' integrated transformation applications Original release: High Court ruling brings clarity to Integrated transformation… (opens in a new tab)
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SEN school staff workloads are unmanageable and unsustainable, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly motion
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says SENCO workload pressures are unfair and unsustainable, and calls on the Education Minister for urgent interventions, properly resourced EA Local Impact Teams and a thorough review of the role ahead of an Assembly motion.
Education Disability and equality Issue: SENCO workload pressures ahead of Assembly motion on special educational needs Original release: SEN school staff workloads are unmanageable and unsustainable, says Mathison, ahead of Assembly motion (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister comments following December Monitoring Round…
Education Minister Paul Givan says his Department faces a current funding shortfall of c£267m for 2025-26 after receiving £25.6m for teachers' pay against £37m requested, and will take a Ministerial Direction to the Executive. He also welcomes £22m in capital funding and calls for a larger…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive monitoring round allocates £162m capital and £104m public sector pay Original release: Education Minister comments following December Monitoring Round… (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must explain how he will meet obligations to integrated education, says Mathison, ahead of motion
Alliance education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA says the Education Minister must set out how he will meet his duties to integrated education after £150m Fresh Start funding for ten new-build integrated schools was withdrawn. Ahead of Alliance's motion, he urges the UK Government to reverse the…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Integrated schools denied Fresh Start funding Original release: Education Minister must explain how he will meet obligations to integrated education, says Mathison, ahead of motion (opens in a new tab)
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Court challenge an attempt to undermine school ethos: Lockhart
DUP MP Carla Lockhart says a forthcoming Supreme Court case on religious instruction and worship in state schools is an attempt to remove them from schools with a Christian ethos. She stresses that parents can withdraw children and hopes the court protects the opt-out and school ethos.
Education Issue: Supreme Court hearing on religious education and collective worship opt-out Original release: Court challenge an attempt to undermine school ethos: Lockhart (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Flynn welcomes supreme court ruling on religious education in schools
Green Party councillor Flynn welcomes the Supreme Court judgment on compulsory religious worship in Northern Ireland schools, urging the Executive to act quickly to overhaul the education framework so pupils from all backgrounds, including non-religious families, feel respected.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Supreme Court ruling on mandatory Christian worship in NI schools Original release: Cllr Flynn welcomes supreme court ruling on religious education in schools (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 20 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must address crisis in school budgets, says Mathison.
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison MLA calls on the Education Minister to explore measures to fund schools, after reports that three quarters of Northern Ireland schools could face budget deficits. He urges assessing the cost of the divided education system, reviewing the school estate…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Reports of school budget deficits across Northern Ireland this year Original release: Education Minister must address crisis in school budgets, says Mathison. (opens in a new tab)
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Egan deeply concerned about schools and pupils receiving brunt of proposed cuts
Alliance education spokesperson Connie Egan MLA says she is deeply concerned that proposed Education Authority cuts, made to find over £200 million in savings, will fall hardest on pupils and schools. She calls for urgent investment and argues that transformation of education is the only lasting…
Education Public finance and taxation Issue: Proposed £200m education cuts Original release: Egan deeply concerned about schools and pupils receiving brunt of proposed cuts (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister must adopt new approach to integrated education, says Guy
Alliance Education spokesperson Michelle Guy MLA calls on the Education Minister to adopt a different approach to integrated education that aligns with the newly launched Integrated Education Strategy, urging action beyond words and supporting increased integrated schools.
Education Issue: Integrated Education Strategy consultation launch Original release: Education Minister must adopt new approach to integrated education, says Guy (opens in a new tab)