§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost of setting up and implementing the proposed new Northern Ireland post-primary education system. [152090]
§ Jane KennedyUntil specific proposals for new arrangements begin to emerge at local level, it will not be possible to make reliable estimates of costs. I will be looking at the available options and discussing with my ministerial colleagues ways to ensure the necessary resources to enable the new arrangements to be implemented, taking account of the opportunities offered by the Strategic Investment Programme.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of how the proposed new post-primary education system will affect funding for(a) schools and (b) Further Education colleges. [152091]
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§ Jane KennedyThe arrangements for funding schools and Further Education colleges will require further consideration in light of the new arrangements. The Government's decisions announced on 26 January provide the context for further work on this issue to be carried out, in consultation with our education partners.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when research will be completed on(a) the post-primary pupil profiles and (b) new admissions criteria for the proposed new post-primary education system; and whether the research process will be open to full public consultation. [152125]
§ Jane KennedyCCEA is developing and piloting the pupil profile which will apply to both primary and post primary schools. The aim is to have it in place as soon as possible in order to improve the information available to parents.
Research on new admissions criteria, which will produce a list of potential criteria for consideration, is expected to be completed by the end of this year. There will be full consultation on this proposed list.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of how the implementation of the proposed new post-primary education system will affect staff employment levels in(a) post-primary schools and (b) further education colleges. [152126]
§ Jane KennedyUntil specific proposals emerge at a local level it will not be possible to determine the affect on staff employment levels in post-primary schools or in further education colleges. Proposals for new post-primary arrangements will be developed at local level by schools and further education colleges working together to ensure that all pupils have access to the "Entitlement Framework".