HC Deb 27 February 1991 vol 186 cc510-2W
Mr. Hume

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of policy evaluation projects, opinion polls or research studies conducted by, for, or on behalf of the Department of Education since 1 January 1985, giving the date and purpose of each study; and if he will list future plans in this area.

1991 Dr. Mawhinney

[holding answer 25 February 1991]: The information requested is as follows:

Year 1985

Title and Purpose

Further Education and Employment for 16–19 Year Olds

Examination of day release, block release and evening vocational courses.

1975 Cohort

Study of the adaptation of pupils entering grammar, secondary, junior high and secondary schools.

Evaluation of Geography for the Young School Leaver

Evaluation of the place geography for the young school leaver plays in the wider curriculum of schools.

Young People in the Youth Training Programme

Assessment of the extent to which YTP training meets the needs of school leavers.

Follow-up of Newly Trained Teachers

Annual analysis of qualifications and subject sector emphasis of newly qualified teachers.

Transfer Procedure

Survey of the effectiveness of the transfer procedure and its influence on the primary curriculum.

The Microcomputer in Secondary Mathematics

Investigation of the use of microcomputers in secondary education.

Survey of Sixth Formers

The Policy Research Institute undertook a survey of sixth formers in Northern Ireland schools to determine their attitude to higher education and to obtain information on their participation in further and higher education.

1985–87

Evaluation of the role of meeting the needs of maladjusted pupils (Fallowfield School).

Survey of Newly Qualified Teachers

1985–90

Survey of teacher employment.

EUDISED

  • Collation of education research for Council of Europe.
  • Register of Research—Computerisation of a register of research.

The M Grade Study

Identification of the curricular opportunities available to M grade pupils.

The Upper Primary Curriculum

Study of the extent to which the Transfer Procedure may distort the upper primary curriculum.

Years of Teaching

Study of the employment and induction experience of teachers qualified in 1985.

Nursery Education

Study of the levels of provision of nursery education in Northern Ireland, and-views on the nature of its provision.

GCSE

Study of post-primary teachers' views on Northern Ireland Schools Examinations Council's (NISEAC) training arrangements and publicity.

Research Selectivity

Working Party set up by DENI, the Queen's University of Belfast and the University of Ulster to consider research provision in the two Northern Ireland universities in the light of the policy of the (then) University Grants Committee on selective of resource allocation. Report published in December 1987

Youth Service

Consultative policy document in the Northern Ireland Youth Service.

1986–87

Education Industry Links in the NE Board

Study of the education industry liaison service.

Language and Literacy in Belfast

Evaluation of the Belfast Education and Library Board's strategy for primary guidelines in language-literacy.

Transfer Pupils at 16

Examination of the efficiency of the Transfer Procedure as a predictor of future examination success.

1986–90

Societal and Educational Context for Variations in Identity Development

To determine differences in children's development patterns.

Mathematics and its Concomitants

To investigate the errors children make in mathematics and for how long the errors persist based on surveys taken at different stages in their development, which take account of various outside factors.

Community Relations

  • Examination of inter-school cross-community cooperation in the Western Education and Library Board.
  • The role of the Churches in inter-community relations.

1987–90

Evaluation of Small Primary Schools Curriculum Support Scheme

To evaluate the changes in curricular content, balance and quality of work, and to consider the operation of the arrangements.

Writing Into Reading

To encourage pupil involvement in writing and reading materials with a local flavour.

Parents in Special Education

Review of the role of parents in the education of children with severe learning difficulties.

Teacher Stress

A review of evidence on teacher stress.

Transfer Procedure

Survey of the effectiveness of the transfer procedure.

Youth Service

Study of voluntary input into the Youth Service.

1988–89

Severe Learning Difficulties

Identification of issues which affect educational practice and means of attaining desired objectives.

Seconded Teachers

Examination of the value of teacher secondment.

Athletics

Indoor athletics arena feasibility study.

Museums

Northern Ireland Museums Advisory Committee 3-year study into a Northern Ireland Local Museums Service.

Local Management of Schools (LMS)

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the pilot project.

Primary Records

Examination of the arrangements for record keeping in primary schools.

Parents and the 1989–90 Transfer Procedure

Investigation of the response by parents to their responsibilities under the 1989 Education Reform Order in selecting post-primary places for their children.

System Differences in Northern Ireland Education

Examination of the system differences in post-primary education.

Sports Centre

  • Northern Ireland Sports Centre feasibility study.
  • Northern Ireland Museums Advisory Committee survey of public attitudes and views of museums.
  • Library and Information Services Council Library and Information Plan for Northern Ireland.
  • Arts Council feasibility study into an academy for the performing arts.
  • Study of Social Integration at Lagan College.
  • Evaluation of effectiveness of Education for Mutual Understanding initiatives in schools.
  • Comparative study of attitudes in students teachers in segregated and non-segregated institutions.
  • An opinion poll was conducted on behalf of the Department of Education early in 1990 to assess the effectiveness of the Department's information campaign on the education reforms.

FUTURE PLANS

  • It is planned to carry out policy evaluation studies during 1991 and various options are currently being examined.
  • Northern Ireland fitness survey.
  • Evaluation of sports facilities and development policy.

Arts Council Survey of Arts Audiences in Northern Ireland

  • To establish a framework against which policies and strategies for the formation of arts can be tested and developed.

Study of the Economic Importance of the Arts in Northern Ireland To examine how and to what extent the Arts might be encouraged so as to strengthen the Northern Ireland economy. Evaluation of commmunity relations programmes. Unjustified pupil absenteeism: to identify factors which contribute to unjustified absenteeism and to evaluate the responses of authorities in dealing with such absences. Introduction of the Common Curriculum: to assist with and monitor the implementation of the common curriculum in a sample of primary schools in Northern Ireland. Investigation of the learning games for pupils arising from a high level of Information Technology (IT) and to explore the viability of using lap-top computers in schools to meet the requirements of the IT cross-curricular theme. Assessment of strategies for modern language teaching to children of full ability range. Pilot postal survey of secondary education leavers: to investigate the feasibility of a larger scale survey to provide information on qualifications and first destinations of secondary education leavers.

Future research topics will be identified in accordance with the Department's research strategy in which policy-related topics are prioritised and researchers are invited to submit proposals addressing the issues involved.