§ David BurnsideTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the composition of the working group established by the Department of Education to formulate proposals on the way forward for transfer procedure from primary to secondary education. [121453]
§ Jane KennedyThe Group is chaired by Steve Costello NA, ho has broad experience in business and education and the members have been drawn from the main representative organisations and managing authorities that will be responsible for developing and implementing future arrangements: Education and Library Boards, Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, Governing Bodies Association of Voluntary Grammar Schools, Trustees of Catholic Voluntary Schools, Teachers' Unions, Transferor Representative's Council (representing the three main Protestant churches), the Integrated sector, the Irish-medium sector, Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment and the Further Education sector. Members were chosen because of the range and depth of their knowledge and experience of the education system in Northern Ireland and include four former or practising principals and a Deputy Director of a Further Education College.