To ask the Minister of Education to detail any actions he is taking with the Minister for the Economy to improve effective collaboration between schools and further education colleges.

The 14-19 Framework “Developing a More Strategic Approach to 14-19 Education and Training – A Framework to Transform 14-19 Education and Training Provision” was developed jointly by my Department and the Department for the Economy (DfE) as a basis on which to drive forward a more strategic and collaborative approach to 14-19 education and training.

There has been significant engagement with stakeholders right across the 14-19 landscape, including schools and the further education colleges, both in the development of the Framework and in taking forward the actions contained within it.

Together with representatives from schools and the education sector, Mr Leo Murphy, Principal of North-West Regional College, sits on the 14-19 Framework Programme Board. The Programme Board was established to oversee the implementation of the actions contained within the Framework.

Following the Gateway review in early 2024, officials in DE and DfE worked closely with stakeholders to devise an improved delivery model. This included hosting a workshop for departmental staff and for the wider 14-19 stakeholder group in the Belfast Metropolitan College to devise new governance arrangements to support delivery of work. Representatives from the education and further education sectors attended that workshop.

Through the Entitlement Framework, schools and FE Colleges work collaboratively to meet the requirement to offer students access to a minimum of 21 courses.

Representatives of schools and FE colleges also have the opportunity to engage on a regular basis at meetings of their local Area Learning Community.