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Caitriona Ruane: It’s time for schools to embrace change
Friday, 16 October 2009
Post-primary schools must step up their efforts to provide a broad range of subject choices for every child, according to Education Minister Caitriona Ruane.
Guaranteeing all children access to a wide range of courses at GCSE and A-level will be a statutory requirement from 2013 under the Entitlement Framework.
In many areas this will have to involve stronger co-operation between schools and colleges.
In a keynote speech to educationalists in the Titanic Pump House yesterday, the Minister warned: “From today, I am spelling out to all post-primary schools that I want to see a change in pace, a stepping up of efforts.
“All schools will be required to demonstrate how they will effectively deliver the Entitlement Framework and seek to maximise choice for children in the future — I want to ensure their plans are not only robust but will deliver a high quality learning experience.”
She also said that the quality of teaching in Northern Ireland is “less than we might expect” and said that schools will be challenged by the new Education and Skills Authority and inspectors to succeed.
“Schools will get the support they need to improve performance but will be expected to deliver and will be held accountable for their outcomes,” she said.
The Minister said that the education system here is currently letting too many people down.
“Contrary to what some people think, albeit a decreasing minority, we do not have a world class education system,” she said.
“A system that perpetuates the gap in achievement between our most disadvantaged and our most affluent pupils is far from world class. We need to change. Change now. Change radically.
“Despite the best efforts of many, our education system is let
ting too many children down — 4,500 are leaving primary school without basic literacy and numeracy skills and by the end of post-primary, almost 11,000 leave school without five good GSCEs including literacy and maths. This cannot continue.”
Referring to the independent entrance tests being set by 68 schools this year, she said: “I would again urge the breakaway grammar schools to reconsider their position.
“No child should have to face the trauma of testing at 10 or 11 to access an education system that every child is entitled to.
“The 11-plus is now gone and the curriculum is delivered on a statutory basis and will not be distorted or bent to serve the needs of a few breakaway schools.”
During her speech, the Minister referred to the ‘Together towards Entitlement’ report which is soon to be published by the Area Based Planning Group chaired by Adeline Dinsmore.
Area-planning aims to provide a schools estate to match the educational needs of local communities so that children do not have to travel many miles on buses to get to school each day.
“I will soon be able to publish the area-based planning report which sets out a road map to delivering a better, more equitable post-primary education system that will serve the needs of all our young people,” Ms Ruane said.
A central tenet of the report is the idea of a ‘forum for engagement’ which would be the mechanism for bringing all sectors and interests together to plan for the needs of all young people in an area.
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32 Comments
What have newly qualified teachers got to do with the transfer chaos? It seems that teachers do not want to address the dilemma they have created for themselves by getting into conflict with parents over the 11-plus academic selection issue. These attempts to distract only serve to further undermine the growing distrust between parents who want information about their children and teachers who wish to avoid accountability.
Perhaps Ms Ruane and her DENI officials will explain the rationale for the 24/27 subject provision for GCSE/A Level in the Entitlement Framework to kick off a re-establishment of trust. Maybe an informed teacher could explain why they have not not challenged this nonsense.
Posted by Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 24.10.09, 00:01 GMT
Whilst I sympathise with the NQT's who are finding it tough to find employment there are also some teachers out here who have not been able to find permanent work and are no longer classified as NQT's. I have been working for over 10 years and am still trying to secure long term permanent employment. I have a string of "wonderful" references and have passed threshhold and PRSD with flying colours. However having just completed two consecutive maternity leaves in a school I was not considered for another temporary post in the same school as there was a young NQT who had just completed teaching practice in the school who was given the post. I appreciate that she is also entitled to the post youth does not always equal enthusiasm and good teaching. Experience is worth investing in too. I am not trying to attack NQT's I am saying that we all deserve a chance at the jobs out there and that cost and nepotism should not be the pre requisites for teaching employment in Northern Ireland.
Posted by Liz | 20.10.09, 13:26 GMT
Robert Smyth | 16.10.09
This common sense critique of the failure of the mandatory coalition model of government is something most people recognise but do not say aloud. Any suggestion that a compromise can be achieved by MLAs or the Belfast Telegraph on an issue of opposite principles gives rise to a more fundamental question. How does this system ever change? The Belfast/Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements have cemented permanent power in the control all politicians. Without opposition influence or a way of removing politicians/parties that fail to represent their voters the future is gloomy for devolution. On the 11-plus transfer issue the last plebiscite was the massive DENI Household Survey. Party political and media spin have erased reference to this evidence.
Posted by Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 20.10.09, 07:54 GMT
I totally agree with Fedup! I have been qualified as a teacher for four years and still am only temporary. At a recent course I was told that the average length of time for a NQT to become permanent in Northern Ireland is 8/9 years!!
The schools are in the best possible position as they can pick and choose teachers from year to year.
We are losing fantastic teachers to England who are sending councils to 'poach' the talent coming out of our teaching colleges! Perhaps this is the true failing of our education system.
Catriona Ruane has failed more than p6 pupils, the whole system is a disgrace. Many super teachers who I graduated with have become fed up and turned to jobs they are overqualified for just to earn a living.
Belfast Telegraph, please report on the plight of Newly Qualified Teachers!
Posted by NQT | 19.10.09, 18:15 GMT
fed-up 16. 10.09 14:02
Are readers aware of how many young qualified teachers are unable to get full time posts for which they are qualified while at the same time teachers over 50 are "retiring" with a full pension but are then being re-employed as substitute teachers. This is both a waste of money and a loss to the system of young, enthusiastic, freshly trained teachers with modern teaching methods and an interest in a career.
An absolutely spot-on comment! As a former teacher I have seen this time and time again. Retired teachers are just that - retired. They are obviously past their sell-by date and should not be allowed back in to sub-teach.
Posted by T J McClean | 19.10.09, 09:11 GMT
The Department of Education (DENI) were severely criticised by the Westminster Public Accounts Committee over numeracy and literacy in 2005. The Minister complains endlessly about the transfer system and the 11-plus but has nothing to say or report on any improvements made by her department. Why not? If the countless educationalists fuelling change were to focus on this vital primary school problem life for parents and pupils would be less stressful. Unfortunately it took Sir Terry Leahy of Tesco to say what we all know. The standards in education are falling leaving employers to pick up the pieces.
Posted by Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 19.10.09, 07:53 GMT
Bemused
"How about real change and end the segregation in schools by religious denomination?"
How do you intend to end segregation by religious denomination? Parents could do that for themselves by sending their children to a school for the other tribe. Why wait for the Minister to "do something" - as if any Minister could bring it about without the co-operation of most parents?
Posted by John McMahon | 18.10.09, 14:02 GMT
Who's for a rally??
Posted by Angry | 16.10.09, 23:11 GMT
This is not a great lesson on the failure of democracy, but it is a lesson never the less. Voting for people who haven't got a clue how to run our country must end. We need more public consultation and the assembly must learn to listen to the people. We didn't vote for an assembly to run the country into the ground, a consultation process must come into force in conjuction with an election, we need to have a say in vital decisions in our country particulary when it's been proven the assembly is at a loss for what to do. We are the people who have to suffer the results of their misguided legislation policies.
Posted by Robert Smyth | 16.10.09, 22:37 GMT
Given this is a person from the party who declares they want to reach agreement over policing and justice and insist on other parties to come to the table to discuss, why won't they meet with those who wish to discuss this further - are they not worth the same respect and recognition as they demand? or do we live a society which encourages bias and prejedice as long as it furthers your own personal gain??
I agree with abolition of 11plus however, the method and means utilised by this minister are questionable and I think a motion of No Confidence in her ability be brought to Stormount.
The fact is Sinn Fein want everybody to dance to their tune and refuse to acknowledge others namely everybody else thinks differently! What type of society do we line in??
Posted by Confused | 16.10.09, 19:23 GMT
Please no more of this Minister, why can the assembly not get rid of unpopular underperfomring ministers, or isolate them rather than them isolating everybody else and being able to do what ever they want. We have a system where each Minister is a seperate dictactor, this is not democracy. Scrap the whole lot, and back to direct rule please. Who with P6 and following kids would consider the "11+ is gone" there are 13000 kids sitting more tests than before.
Posted by Mark | 16.10.09, 15:57 GMT
It is no longer just the question over the 11 plus that needs addressed it is the entire education system which is approaching breaking point. Ruane has failed to improve any single aspect of the system. Are readers aware of how many young qualified teachers are unable to get full time posts for which they are qualified while at the same time teachers over 50 are "retiring" with a full pension but are then being re-employed as substitute teachers. This is both a waste of money and a loss to the system of young, enthusiastic, freshly trained teachers with modern teaching methods and an interest in a career. Ruane herself states " the quality of teaching is "less than we might expect" but what is she doing about it? Answer - nothing, as she is out of her depth.
Posted by fed-up | 16.10.09, 15:56 GMT
It's time for Catriona Ruane to stop labelling those children as failures, who's achievements indicate a propensity for the type of schooling offered outside of a grammar system.
Her thinking is of this order: Child A is not tall enough for the basketball team; therefore they must be classified as a failure and take up chess instead.
The fact is that we ALL have a different range of abilities and capacity to learn, but no one should be described as a failure. Getting rid of the measuring mechanism changes nothing. The concept of failure is in the minds of those like Ruane.
It is they need to learn how to think in a different way and abandon their politically driven fanatical dogmas. Doing this would enable them to see all children as equal, regardless of their level of achievement.
Posted by man dingo | 16.10.09, 15:02 GMT
Mush and gush from the Titanic Pump House. What is ''a high quality learning experience''? Caitriona blames the quality of teaching here which is '' less than one might expect.'' Then the threat: ''Schools.......will be held accountable for their outcomes.''
How does one hold a dictatorial Minister to account?
Then the Marxist viewpoint:..'' it is the system which perpetuates the gap in achievement between our most disadvantaged and our most affluent pupils. ''
Let us advance together brothers and sisters on the long march from Poleglass to the Malone Road and extirpate these running dogs of capitalism once and for all.
Posted by George | 16.10.09, 14:02 GMT
Not that I have much time for our current education minister, but who would want her job after years of letting our education system be dragged down by other ministers who were more used to saying NO to everything, marching and carrying out teeriost attacks.
I dont believe we have anyone in any party have a clear idea or suuccessful plan to offer us.
Sure they wont even sit down with the minister and put their idea and proposal on the table its all about scoring points and while they do this it is our yes all our children who will suffer.
and lets not forget all those little fat suit men who act behind the sences for our ministers who really pull the strings why are'nt we holding them to account. or the british gov as they were in control of our education for years.....
Posted by youthworker | 16.10.09, 13:38 GMT
Come on, surely someone, somewhere agrees with this woman........anyone?.............speak up.........no........nobody?
OK, maybe not!
Stephen
Posted by Stephen | 16.10.09, 13:34 GMT
and still this woman wont tell us where the HQ will be for the Education & Skills Authority. 4500 staff are waiting to hear about this and their chance of redundancy but Catriona wont make decisions on either. 11 weeks until ESA begins and she keeps us in the dark. She will destroy education administration as well as the chances for our children.
Posted by Want to retire | 16.10.09, 13:34 GMT
ruane your ears are closed i know, however in the off chance something might fight its way into your also closed brain ,i will say this in the choice between your ego and all our children you come second i know you think its impossible but even these young children pick up more than you...they listen
Posted by w. gould | 16.10.09, 12:42 GMT
Jim, you may want to the people that work there that they don't exist, if only it was that easy, I think most of us would get rid of Ruane in a second.
www.deni.gov.uk
Posted by DENI | 16.10.09, 11:52 GMT
Wish Catriona would enlighten us as to where the new Education Skills Authority HQ will be. 11 weeks to go and the 4500 staff are waiting for her decision on this and the voluntary redundancies. Looks like she's gonna destroy education administration as well.
Posted by Want to retire | 16.10.09, 11:18 GMT
32 Comments