D.E. defends cross sector co-operation

THE Department of Education (DE) says local educational partnerships allow schools to pool resources and plan provision in a coherent way and that there are clear examples of good co-operation between schools of a different religious ethos in Londonderry.

The Department released a statement to the Sentinel in response to a claim by the Chairman of the Foyle Unionist Association Terry Wright that demographic trends and economic cutbacks are affecting the capacity of controlled schooling in the city to meet the requirements of key DE policy.

Mr Wright warned that the choice of those pupils in Controlled schools, who have to travel to Catholic schools to further their education, is diminished.

In response the Department stated: “Through Area Learning Communities (ALC), working together allows schools to pool resources and to plan provision at an area level in a coherent way and matching the curricular offer to the opportunities available.

“The focus of curricular planning and delivery must be on the needs of the learners in an area, not on the needs of institutions. The ALC is the forum within which local, practical issues and problems are discussed and solutions found.

“There are already many good examples of co-operation and collaboration among schools and between schools and the Further Education sector, including examples of co-operation between schools from different sectors and of different religious ethos.

“The EF, a core element of the revised curriculum, is being introduced as part of the Department’s focus on helping every young person to fulfil her or his full potential.

“The EF will ensure that young people, from the age of 14, have access to a broader, better balanced range of courses and pathways that are relevant to their needs and interests and can help them succeed as adults in life and at work, irrespective of where they live or the school they attend.

“In guaranteeing all learners access to a broad and balanced offer, the EF also seeks to provide greater equality of access to young people facing barriers to learning or disadvantage.

“The introduction of the EF is therefore a core element of the Department’s wider work to improve educational outcomes for all pupils and to address the barriers to learning that result in too many young people not achieving to their full potential.

“Few schools will be in a position to deliver the full EF on their own. Most will have to collaborate with other schools, FE Colleges or Training Organisations in order to expand the range of courses they offer to young people.”