To ask the Minister of Education to detail any actions that he is taking in line with the recommendation within the Independent Review of Education to 'right size' the network of schools.

There are several references in the Independent Review of Education (IRE) report to ‘right-sizing’ that are linked to the Panel’s recommendation to reconfigure the network of schools (recommendation 20).

A network of viable and sustainable schools, of the right type, the right size, located in the right place, at the right time and with a focus on raising standards is critical for the future of our education system.

The Independent Panel determined that Northern Ireland currently has too many non-viable small schools and too many small sixth forms. To tackle this problem – which has both educational and financial dimensions – the Panel stated that we need a new approach to Area Planning.

This will require managing authorities and sectoral bodies to work together to create thriving, sustainable schools that support higher standards of education and promote inclusion for all children and young people.

Change of the scale proposed by the Independent Panel will take time and require significant financial investment. The Panel estimated capital costs at £1bn over a 10-year period. That level of funding is not available at present, but I will continue to make the case to the Executive for additional funding to deliver on my priorities for Education.

However, actions are and will continue to be taken to reconfigure the network of schools, in line with my Department’s priorities, through the Area Planning process. These changes are detailed in the Strategic Area Plan (2022-27: Planning for Sustainable Provision) and the Education Authority’s published Operational Plans and are brought forward through the statutory Development Proposal process.