The Northern Ireland Assembly - Written Answers to Questions: Friday 2 February 2001

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Friday 2 February 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

EDUCATION

Raising School Standards Initiative

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the names of schools that have taken part in the raising school standards and improving schools initiatives in each of the last five years for which figures are available; (b) how much additional financial support has been given to each school; (c) what this money has been spent on and (d) the evidence that demonstrates that school standards have been raised as a result of this expenditure.

(AQW 1358/00)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): The information available for the raising school standards initiative (RSSI) and, from September 1998, its successor, the school support programme (SSP), is set out in the table below.

Individual schools are required to prepare action plans for improvement which are considered by the SSP steering group for the education and library board area. Boards provide professional support to participating schools together with modest additional resources to support each school’s approved action plan. Details of the expenditure for every school, other than the totals shown in the table, are not held centrally. Typically, schools use the additional resources to release staff for planning, co-ordinating and implementing the school’s action plan.

The aim of the programme is to enable schools to become self-sustaining in terms of improvement and in due course this is expected to lead to raised attainments in end-of-Key-Stage assessments and public examinations, improved attendance rates, fewer suspensions and expulsions, et cetera. Each school’s progress towards self-sustaining improvement is determined taking account of professional advice from the Education and Training Inspectorate, the relevant education and library board and, as appropriate, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools.

By the end of the 1999-2000 school year, 89% of RSSI schools had made sufficient progress to graduate from support. Although improvements are not expected to be reflected immediately in better results, all 14 post-primary RSSI schools which left support in 1998 had, by 1999, shown improvements in at least one key GCSE measure and nine showed improvement in three key measures compared to the position when they joined the programme. The cohort of new schools admitted to SSP from September 1998 will have their progress reviewed towards the end of the current school year and further schools are expected to graduate from the programme.

School Name	95/96 Expend-iture (£)	96/97 Expend-iture (£)	97/98 Expend-iture (£)	98/99 Expend-iture (£)	99/00 Expend-iture (£)
Schools in the Raising School Standards Initiative
BELB
Avoniel PS 1	12,622	65,855	46,373	1,867	7,674
Blythefield PS 1	6,672	55,165	36,833	1,469	0
Botanic PS 2	13,917	58,168	29,310	14,066	11,013
Grove PS 2	9,587	74,346	46,470	16,556	15,517
Knocknagoney PS 1	3,841	61,510	52,654	8,700	6,141
Lowwood PS 1	12,974	70,586	48,485	9,935	11,578
Mersey Street PS	10,732	63,902	38,564	17,337	55,409
Nettlefield PS 2	10,946	60,439	33,511	24,628	18,181
Strand PS 2	16,725	67,054	37,991	23,906	19,793
Sydenham Infants PS 1	20,624	59,485	36,974	12,387	6,767
Donegall Road PS 3	33,123	59,353	61,297	20,000	52,422
Glenwood PS 1	65,702	105,312	34,371	11,409	6,621
Malvern PS 3	65,926	72,143	45,764	9,773	49,131
Springhill PS 1	44,910	84,410	27,709	12,604	7,000
Suffolk PS 1	82,096	56,791	28,648	11,260	6,706
Vere Foster PS	85,780	82,284	63,901	33,523	53,952
Holy Trinity Boys PS 1	11,764	77,074	43,400	8,074	7,472
Holy Trinity Girls PS 1	15,255	86,458	50,290	7,088	4,023
St Mary’s Girls PS 1	7,751	76,871	42,467	14,961	9,238
St Oliver Plunkett Boys’ PS 1	16,668	79,400	47,915	9,457	9,155
Holy Cross Boys’ PS 1	63,437	42,048	44,693	11,818	6,598
St Aidan’s PS	74,738	80,164	29,541	23,421	20,250
St Vincent de Paul PS 2	44,296	74,964	17,622	10,737	11,544
St Kevin’s PS 1	74,942	71,482	29,132	1,002	5,223
Ashfield Boys HS 1	2,415	66,312	63,968	14,474	9,105
Castle HS	40,408	25,932	45,504	24,989	39,380
Orangefield HS 2	5,860	57,632	57,211	5,870	15,212
Larkfield (Balmoral) HS 3	63,093	37,897	34,938	10,163	40,242
Mount Gilbert Community College	13,858	73,390	24,843	17,000	44,227
Christian Brothers SS 3	5,875	56,931	115,506	26,525	58,927
St Rose’s Girls HS 3	7,790	50,145	63,079	15,912	32,328
St Gabriel’s College	45,422	64,097	51,352	20,000	73,560
Corpus Christi College	100,018	111,259	53,272	19,748	58,851
WELB
Donemana PS 2	15,733	22,699	19,739	9,132	20,332
Sion Mills PS 1	13,863	49,885	84,021	37,539	3,740
Strabane PS 1	20,295	48,606	106,275	38,553	470
Christ the King PS, Omagh 1	36,668	45,867	57,637	32,934	3,951
Glendermott PS, Ballyshasky 2	25,664	88,919	71,961	14,582	30,189
Holy Child PS, Creggan, Londonderry 3	33,762	77,143	75,717	3,035	17,149
Holy Family PS, Shantallow, Londonderry 1	27,871	77,295	108,349	52,123	13,014
Lenamore PS, Londonderry 1	35,596	71,360	74,122	38,385	7,489
Longtower PS, Londonderry 1	18,219	59,065	105,915	50,718	1,145
Rosemount PS, Londonderry	49,269	58,031	100,595	4,014	7,855
Slievemore PS, Londonderry	20,128	100,753	84,399	3,913	27,889
St Mary’s PS, Killyclogher 1	28,086	80,101	75,122	16,622	21,850
St Oliver Plunkett’s PS, Strathfoyle 1	21,183	45,315	49,886	41,991	7,316
Trench Road PS, Waterside, Londonderry 1	66,151	102,529	119,131	36,500	4,112
Strabane HS 2	33,689	52,077	70,608	0	24,691
St Brecan’s HS, Waterside, Londonderry 1	22,983	81,140	158,847	23,925	5,761
St Brigid’s HS, Carnhill, Londonderry 1	110,257	177,177	99,683	38,781	9,202
St Joseph’s HS, Creggan, Londonderry 1	67,841	72,021	36,147	41,589	5,930
St Patrick’s HS, Omagh 1	63,029	116,277	63,199	27,321	5,639
St Peter’s HS, Southway, Londonderry	35,112	79,097	55,289	2,142	127,486
NEELB
Abbot’s Cross PS, Newtownabbey 1	14,660	69,396	49,536	9,071	7,970.95
Ballee PS 2	11,026	54,154	28,255	13,494	23,182
Ballykeel PS, Ballymena 2	43,953	71,019	34,919	15,407	3,056.04
Ballysally PS, Coleraine 1	27,317	96,267	38,001	7,502	7,685.78
Harpur’s Hill PS, Coleraine 1	25,580	39,483	50,202	10,337	6,272
Rathcoole PS, Newtownabbey 2	34,441	81,228	37,642	17,318	11,526
St Brigid’s PS, Ballymoney 1	33,573	59,971	40,446	13,096	9,825
St Ciaran’s PS, Cushendun 1	10,115	27,290	14,251	7,048	5,560
St John’s PS, Carnlough 1	7,899	18,385	28,135	14,287	2,174
St John’s PS, Coleraine 1	30,737	50,030	43,519	5,187	8,342
St Malachy’s PS, Coleraine 1	3,779	27,973	46,028	9,777	8,970
St Mary’s PS, Cushendall 1	12,649	16,747	13,074	7,767	954
St Patrick’s PS, Loughguile, Ballymena 1	10,024	57,728	36,452	8,357	8,850
St Patrick’s PS, Rasharkin 1	11,171	80,788	36,402	7,764	8,875
Ballee Community HS 1	36,054	93,499	29,281	9,929	9,717
Coleraine Boys’ SS 2	2,841	105,601	52,789	19,590	15,239
Newtownabbey Community HS 3	56,365	75,316	44,668	9,557	10,109
Our Lady of Lourdes HS, Ballymoney 1	53,194	111,136	53,823	10,756	8,909
St Aloysius’ HS, Cushendall	6,466	27,206	32,692	26,569	23,525
St Joseph’s HS, Coleraine 1	19,517	63,969	30,117	9,072	6,541
SEELB
Brooklands PS, Dundonald 1	35,136	49,184	74,290	32,781	5,716
Cregagh PS 1	42,427	69,862	50,159	25,375	3,044
Killyleagh PS 2	30,604	65,725	34,965	9,375	29,363
Largymore PS, Lisburn 2	51,345	40,050	44,560	26,686	27,547
Old Warren PS, Lisburn 1	53,891	58,159	51,384	21,233	6,000
Redburn PS, Holywood 1	52,840	65,690	48,836	6,306	4,000
Tullycarnet PS 1	66,373	73,613	74,949	34,165	7,722
St Kieran’s PS, Poleglass 1	60,403	157,963	76,769	61,842	6,416
St Luke’s PS, Twinbrook 1	20,765	108,026	77,240	24,828	8,953
Down Academy, Downpatrick 1	20,583	186,946	114,862	96,796	2,387
Dundonald HS	30,770	56,012	74,803	49,318	31,512
Priory College 2	37,752	53,878	77,967	34,585	5,857
Lisnagarvey HS, Lisburn 1	54,028	107,021	53,579	21,816	7,248
Lisnasharragh HS	51,455	46,339	46,829	32,212	57,171
St Colm’s HS, Twinbrook 1	75,270	5,825	80,232	51,020	5,951
SELB
Drumgor 1	52,348	84,744	47,643	13,245	5,026
Armagh Christian Brothers’ PS 1	58,384	72,304	27,782	23,833	3,819
St Colman’s Abbey PS, Newry 1	47,241	61,751	44,517	19,417	0
St Colman’s PS, Kilkeel 1	42,151	68,022	41,198	2,3111	8,336
St Joseph’s Infants PS, Lurgan 1	53,765	122,098	44,423	0	8,643
St Patrick’s PS, Armagh 1	44,238	101,979	57,356	9,155	0
St Patrick’s Boys’ PS, Newry 1	40,952	53,463	43,467	29,310	0
St Patrick’s PS, Dungannon 1	46,063	109,924	54,075	21,551	0
St Peter’s PS, Lurgan 1	45,585	87,791	52,413	6,024	0
Tannaghmore PS, Lurgan 1	45,030	70,340	42,007	26,236	4,084
Brownlow College, Craigavon 3	21,907	154,118	47,226	21,685	40,919
St Brigid’s HS, Armagh 2	31,061	92,920	21,202	43,174	20,600
St Columban’s College, Kilkeel 1	114,251	133,272	73,758	10,130	2,335
St Joseph’s Boys’ HS, Newry 1	87,349	177,353	58,840	31,500	0
St Patrick’s Boys’ HS 1	81,009	75,003	52,950	0	14,292
St Paul’s Junior HS, Lurgan 3	76,237	199,783	37,762	35,871	25,432
Schools admitted to the School Support Programme September 1998
BELB
Beechfield PS				12,000	55,433
Harmony PS				10,000	48,422
St John’s Girls’ PS				5,000	55,898
St Mary’s Boys’ & Girls’ PS	Withdrawn Dec 98
St Bernadette’s Girls’ PS				16,000	27,470
St Paul’s Boys’ PS				9,000	58,129
St Paul’s PS				7,000	51,613
St Comgall’s PS	Withdrawn Dec 98
St Patrick’s College				17,000	38,598
St Gemma’s HS				19,000	60,198
St Francis de Sales Special School				14,000	37,685
WELB
Newtownstewart Model PS				2,561	19,202
St Tierney’s PS				5,582	19,234
Barrack Street Boys’ PS				7,805	43,222
Templemore SS				3,855	7,028
St Patricks & St Brigids HS				2,846	18,164
NEELB
Sunnylands PS				22,351	51,722
Ballycraigy PS				4,237	48,990
Antiville PS				12,049	48,171
Rathenraw Integrated PS				22,825	27,240
St Comgall’s HS				7,916	48,788
Edmund Rice College				6,325	46,598
SEELB
Derryboy PS				3,463	24,511
Tyrella PS				40,421	6,137
Derriaghy PS				0	31,125
St Joseph’s PS				4,794	26,995
St Colmcille’s PS				8,551	49,218
Donaghadee HS				5,460	58,296
Dunmurry HS				10,458	57,554
SELB
Killylea PS				7,696	25,869
Tullygally PS				9,529	35,271
St Michael’s PS				4,649	17,285
Craigavon Senior HS				2,064	31,961
St Joseph’s HS				2,327	14,454
St Patrick’s College 3				17,900	69,020
Fallowfield Special School				0	0
Schools admitted to the School Support Programme September 1999
BELB
Edenbrooke PS					15,431
St Gall’s Monastery PS					11,415
Edmund Rice Christian Brothers’ PS					5,883
St Patrick’s PS					13,614
Jaffe Special School	Withdrawn Jan’ 01				7,217
WELB
Langfield PS					1,443
Ashlea PS					1,495
Gortin PS					1,258
Fountain PS					7,182
St Brigid’s PS					1,502
St Joseph’s PS					762
Bunscoil Cholmcille PS					689
Faughan Valley HS					8,446
NEELB
Hollybank PS					3415
Ballyduff PS					10,491
Earlview PS					672
St Joseph’s PS					8,594
Larne HS					928
Maghera HS					13,971
St Malachy’s HS					17,655
SEELB
Kilcooley PS					8,246
West Winds PS					13,061
St Mark’s PS					4,841
Comber HS					12,391
Gransha HS					3,792
De La Salle SS					7,174
SELB
Aughnacloy HS					0
Donard Special School 3					0
Schools admitted to the School Support Programme September 2000
BELB
Taughmonagh PS
SEELB
Lakewood Special School

1: schools which exited programme June 1998
2: schools which exited programme June 1999
3: schools which exited programme June 2000

Public-Private Partnership Projects

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Education to report on the progress of all the public-private partnership projects currently in hand in the provision of education capital investment, including details of (a) the cost of tendering for each project; (b) the rate of return for investors; (c) what contracts have been entered into with regard to servicing buildings; (d) the revenue implications of such contracts for the relevant education and library boards and schools over the next 25 years; and (e) who owns the buildings currently and who will own the buildings when the service contracts come to an end.

(AQW 1359/00)

Private Finance Initiative

Mr M McGuinness: Of the original six private finance initiative (PFI) pathfinder projects commenced in 1996, four relate to schools and are the responsibility of the Department of Education, the remaining two now being the responsibility of the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment. Contracts have now been completed on all four schools projects, by the relevant education authority, with the following consortia (the Wellington College/Balmoral High Schools were procured under a single contract):

	School	Authority	PFI Company	Planned Date of Operation of New School
1.	Drumglass High School	Southern Education and Library Board	Campus Ltd	September 2000
2.	St Genevieve’s High School	Trustees	BES Ltd	March 2002
3.	Wellington College/ Balmoral High School	Belfast Education and Library Board	Northwin Ltd	January 2002

The further information requested is as follows:

a. The tendering costs incurred by the various private sector consortia bidding for each project are not known to, nor available to, the relevant education authority, nor the Department.

b. I am advised that the contracts for these projects contain clauses on the non-disclosure of such commercial in confidence information.

c. Service contracts have been entered into as follows:

Drumglass High School Martin FM Ltd
St Genevieve’s High School Building and
Property Ltd
Wellington College/
Balmoral High School Graham &
Maybin Ltd

d. Each school management authority has one contract with the provider to cover all elements of serviced accommodation by means of a monthly unitary payment over 25 years. The annual expenditure, as part of the unitary payment and subject to indexation, for each school and education authority during the period of the contract is as follows:

School	Contribution by Schools	Contribution by Education Authority
Drumglass High School	£81,000	£116,000
St Genevieve’s high School	£165,000	£233,000
Wellington College/ Balmoral High School	£205,000 (covering both schools)	£296,000 (covering both schools)

e. The private sector operators are providing buildings and services, under licence to the relevant school authorities. The buildings are legally owned by the relevant school authorities, and the school authorities will continue to own the buildings when the service contracts come to an end.

General National Vocational Qualifications

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister of Education to detail each grammar and secondary school with a sixth form and outline (a) the number of pupils in upper and lower sixth; (b) the proportion of pupils that have enrolled directly into sixth form from another school; (c) the number of General National Vocational Qualifications and other non-A level courses offered, and; (d) the average class size.

(AQW 1360/00)

Mr M McGuinness: From the annual school census, the information for (a) is as follows:

Grammar Schools	LOWER 6TH	UPPER 6TH
Abbey Grammar School	123	97
Antrim Grammar School	93	90
Aquinas Grammar School	111	91
Assumption Grammar School	133	113
Ballyclare High School	128	140
Ballymena Academy	162	146
Banbridge Academy	191	141
Bangor Grammar School	106	104
Belfast High School	115	94
Belfast Royal Academy	183	183
Bloomfield Collegiate	105	90
Cambridge House Boys’ Grammar School	55	24
Cambridge House Girls’ Grammar School	57	60
Campbell College	107	100
Carrickfergus Grammar School	90	98
Christian Bros’ Grammar School	137	134
Coleraine Academical Institution	95	74
Coleraine High School	93	91
Convent Grammar School	162	142
Convent Grammar School	54	49
Dalriada School	94	93
Dominican College	127	131
Dominican College	56	46
Down High School	119	102
Enniskillen Collegiate	75	67
Foyle & Londonderry College	126	110
Friends School	122	116
Glenlola Collegiate	131	120
Grosvenor Grammar School	145	125
Hunterhouse College	95	88
Larne Grammar School	79	86
Limavady Grammar School	131	110
Loreto College, Coleraine	90	94
Loreto Grammar School, Omagh	145	141
Lurgan College	79	91
Methodist College	262	251
Omagh Academy	92	90
Our Lady and St Patrick’s College	152	157
Our Ladys Grammar School	121	117
Portadown College	187	159
Portora Royal School	54	46
Rainey Endowed School	84	89
Rathmore Grammar School	181	161
Regent House School	173	162
Royal Belfast Acad Institute	125	113
Royal School Armagh	91	60
Royal School Dungannon	79	88
Sacred Heart Grammar	128	111
St Colman’s College	77	104
St Columb’s College	237	217
St Dominic’s High School	116	122
St Joseph’s Convent Grammar School	53	56
St Louis’ Grammar School, Kilkeel	120	111
St Louis’ Grammar School, Kintullagh	88	70
St Macnissi’s College	73	71
St Malachy’s College	122	116
St Mary’s Cb Grammar School	135	145
St Mary’s Grammar School	134	133
St Michael’s College, Enniskillen	95	97
St Michael’s Grammar School, Lurgan	114	109
St Patrick’s Academy For Boys	111	92
St Patrick’s Academy For Girls	115	104
St Patrick’s Grammar School, Armagh	90	90
St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick	93	83
Strabane Grammar School	52	55
Strathearn School	103	93
Sullivan Upper School	134	142
Thornhill College	225	203
Victoria College	110	112
Wallace High School	156	144
Wellington College	93	89

Secondary Schools	LOWER 6TH	UPPER 6TH
Ashfield Boys’ High School	41	8
Ashfield Girls’ High School	34	21
Ballee Community High School	18	7
Ballycastle High School	21	21
Ballyclare Secondary School	55	27
Banbridge High School	20	3
Bangor High School	92	59
Belfast Boys’ Model School	87	38
Belfast Model School for Girls	96	57
Brownlow College	7	0
Carrickfergus College	54	37
Castle High School	5	0
Castlederg High School	18	9
City of Armagh High School	31	15
Clondermot High School	17	11
Cookstown High School	77	71
Corpus Christi College	38	10
Cross and Passion College	69	35
Cullybackey High School	22	20
Dean Brian Maguirc College	15	17
Donaghadee High School	7	0
Downshire School	37	19
Drumcree College	17	35
Drumglass High School	0	7
Drumragh College	41	0
Duke of Westminster High School	9	10
Dunclug College	23	18
Edmund Rice College	54	18
Enniskillen High School	33	26
Erne Integrated College	18	11
Faughan Valley High School	10	13
Fivemiletown High & Community College	53	40
Forthill College	13	9
Glastry College	27	18
Glengormley High School	72	62
Hazelwood College	54	28
Holy Trinity College	78	51
Kilkeel High School	59	54
Knockbreda High School	0	13
La Salle Boys’ School	91	86
Lagan College	80	37
Larne High School	41	16
Laurelhill Community College	37	23
Limavady High School	10	8
Lismore Comprehensive School	100	57
Lisnasharragh High School	7	0
Lisnaskea High School	0	5
Little Flower Girls’ School	63	45
Meanscoil Feirste	17	15
Monkstown Community School	18	15
Newtownabbey Community High School	18	11
New-Bridge Integrated College	26	0
Newry High School	46	52
Oakgrove College	41	30
Omagh High School	9	13
Orangefield High School	19	0
Our Lady of Mercy Girls’ School	60	24
Sacred Heart College	54	17
Shimna Integrated College	25	33
St Aloysius’ High School	0	3
St Brecan’s High School	26	10
St Brigid’s High School	51	14
St Catherine’s College	120	103
St Cecilia’s College	100	62
St Ciaran’s High School	94	59
St Colm’s High School	12	11
St Colman’s High School, Ballynahinch	140	82
St Colman’s High School, Strabane	23	0
St Columba’s High School	9	0
St Comgall’s High School	19	0
St Comhghall’s High School	18	18
St Eugene’s College	17	23
St Fanchea’s College	37	25
St Gemma’s High School	35	19
St Genevieve’s High School	81	70
St Joseph’s College, Belfast	39	8
St Joseph’s College, Londonderry	59	43
St Joseph’s High School, Coleraine	26	19
St Louise’s Comprehensive College	159	149
St Malachy’s High School	54	51
St Mary’s College, Londonderry	84	57
St Mary’s High School, Belleek	4	15
St Mary’s High School, Downpatrick	14	6
St Mary’s School	44	18
St Patrick’s College, Ballymena	18	0
St Patrick’s High School	36	18
St Patrick’s High School	47	70
St Patrick’s College	183	178
St Patricks College	18	19
St Paul’s High School	47	52
St Peter’s High School	12	10
St Rose’s High School	25	13
St.Joseph’s College, Enniskillen	16	7
St.Patrick’s High School	31	22
Templemore Secondary School	26	8

The information requested at (b), (c ) and (d) is not held by the Department.

Schools in West Belfast

Dr O’Hagan asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the number of teaching establishments in West Belfast that are voluntary and private pre-school education centres, grant-aided schools, independent schools and post-primary schools; (b) the cost to the Department of each establishment; (c) the numbers of pupils and teachers in each of the schools and (d) the pupil/teacher ratio.

(AQW 1373/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The following information has been provided by education and library boards, or is directly available to the Department:

(a)

Number of teaching establishments in West Belfast 2000/2001

Type of School	Number
Voluntary and Private Pre-School Education Centres	15
Nursery Schools	18
Primary Schools	32
Post Primary Schools	12
Special Schools	2
Hospital Schools	1
Independent Schools	2

(b) Under the pre-school expansion programme the Department funds places in 15 pre-school settings in the voluntary and private sectors in the West Belfast area, at a rate of £1,160 per place in the current academic year.

Information obtained from funding authorities shows the following local management of schools (LMS) formula funding allocations for the current financial year, together with allocations from centrally held funds for items such as contingency, substitute cover, et cetera. up to 31 December 2000.

Nursery School Funding

School	Total Funding (£)
Denmark Street Nursery School	64,573
Good Shepherd Nursery School	129,456
Holy Child Nursery School	119,953
Malvern Street Nursery School	137,879
Matt Talbot Nursery School	128,483
Shaftesbury Nursery School	121,289
St Bernadette’s Nursery School	134,547
St Kieran’s Nursery School	128,151
St Luke’s Nursery School	132,089
St Maria Goretti Nursery School	119,591
St Martin’s Nursery School	158,366
St Michael’s Nursery School	133,464
St Oliver Plunkett Nursery School	124,116
St Paul’s Nursery School	120,218
St Peter’s Nursery School	123,381
St Teresa’s Nursery School	137,215
St Therese Nursery School	71,500
The Cathedral Nursery School	114,395

Primary School Funding

School	Total Funding (£)
Blackmountain PS	377,729
Bunscoil An Tsleibhe Dhuibh	285,369
Bunscoil Phobal Feirste	702,136
Forth River PS	343,656
Gaelscoil Na Bhfal	461,100
Harmony PS	629,494
Holy Child PS	1,427,484
Holy Trinity PS	1,988,369
Malvern PS	443,424
Scoil Na Fuiseoige	227,033
Springfield PS	321,571
Springhill PS	642,686
St Aidan’s Christian Brothers PS	764,129
St Bernadette’s PS	679,077
St Catherine’s PS	371,689
St Gall’s Monastery PS	568,924
St John The Baptist Boys’ PS	1,125,035
St John The Baptist Girls’ PS	993,931
St John’s Girls’ PS	351,152
St Joseph’s PS	851,252
St Kevin’s PS	1,032,656
St Kieran’s PS	1,399,563
St Luke’s PS	719,479
St Mark’s PS	1,377,202
St Mary’s PS	386,962
St Oliver Plunkett PS	1,415,712
St Paul’s PS	917,650
St Peter’s PS	1,100,995
St Teresa’s PS	1,101,458
Suffolk PS	434,217
The Good Shepherd PS	1,100,090
Vere Foster PS	577,142

Post Primary School Funding

School	Total Funding (£)
Balmoral High School	1,472,277
Christian Brothers’ Secondary School	2,282,745
Corpus Christi College	3,216,323
La Salle Boys’ School	3,550,458
Meanscoil Feirste	954,904
Mount Gilbert Community College	1,803,706
St Colm’s High School	2,048,633
St Dominic’s High School	2,776,036
St Genevieve’s High School	2,695,322
St Louise’s Comprehensive College	6,562,687
St Mary’s CB Grammar School	3,331,968
St Rose’s High School	1,770,750

Special School Funding ⁽¹⁾

School	Total Funding (£)
St Francis De Sales	193,756
St Gerard’s Education Resource Centre	1,732,220

Hospital School Funding ⁽¹⁾

School	Total Funding (£)
Belfast Hospital School	523,987

^1. Special and hospital schools are funded outside LMS arrangements.

Full time equivalent (FTE) pupil and teacher numbers and pupil:teacher ratios in nursery schools

School	FTE Pupils	FTE Teachers	Pupil: Teacher Ratio
Denmark Street Nursery School	17	1.0	17.0
Good Shepherd Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0
Holy Child Nursery School	52	3.0	17.3
Malvern Street Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0
Matt Talbot Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0
Shaftesbury Nursery School	51	2.0	25.5
St Bernadette’s Nursery School	52	3.0	17.3
St Kieran’s Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0
St Luke’s Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0
St Maria Goretti Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0
St Martin’s Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0
St Michael’s Nursery School	52	1.0(2)	52.0(2)
St Oliver Plunkett Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0
St Paul’s Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0
St Peter’s Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0
St Teresa’s Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0
St Therese Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0
The Cathedral Nursery School	52	2.0	26.0

^2.The count of full time equivalent teachers excludes substitute teachers. At the count date there was one substitute teacher at this school making a total of two teachers, which would give a pupil/teacher ratio of 26.0.

Full time equivalent (FTE) pupil and teacher numbers and pupil:teacher ratios in primary schools (including nursery and reception pupils)

School	FTE Primary	FTE Teachers	Pupils: Teacher Ratio
Blackmountain PS	128	7.0	18.3
Bunscoil An Tsleibhe Dhuibh	150	8.0	18.8
Bunscoil Phobal Feirste	342	15.0	22.8
Forth River PS	181	9.0	20.1
Gaelscoil Na Bhfal	169	7.0	24.1
Harmony PS	224	12.0	18.7
Holy Child PS	720	30.0	24.0
Holy Trinity PS	655	35.0	18.7
Malvern PS	141	9.0	15.7
Scoil Na Fuiseoige	115	7.0	16.4
Springfield PS	119	7.0	17.0
Springhill PS	370	16.0	23.1
St Aidan’s Christian Brothers PS	324	19.0	17.1
St Bernadette’s PS	311	17.0	18.3
St Catherine’s PS	200	11.0	18.2
St Gall’s Monastery PS	248	13.0	19.1
St John The Baptist Boys’ PS	590	24.0	24.6
St John The Baptist Girls’ PS	541	24.0	22.5
St John’s Girls’ PS	144	8.5	16.9
St Joseph’s PS	293	15.0	19.5
St Kevin’s PS	538	26.0	20.7
St Kieran’s PS	669	33.6	19.9
St Luke’s PS	331	16.6	19.9
St Mark’s PS	656	30.0	21.9
St Mary’s PS	83	7.0	11.9
St Oliver Plunkett PS	674	34.0	19.8
St Paul’s PS	273	15.0	18.2
St Peter’s PS	478	25.0	19.1
St Teresa’s PS	580	26.0	22.3
Suffolk PS	168	9.0	18.7
The Good Shepherd PS	556	28.6	19.4
Vere Foster PS	180	10.0	18.0

Full time equivalent (FTE) pupil and teacher numbers and pupil:teacher ratios in post primary schools

School	FTE Pupils	FTE Teachers	Pupil: Teacher Ratio
Balmoral High School	400	26.0	15.4
Christian Brothers’ Secondary School	736	52.3	14.1
Corpus Christi College	796	58.0	13.7
La Salle Boys’ School	1,196	84.2	14.2
Meanscoil Feirste	332	21.0	15.8
Mount Gilbert Community College	344	28.0	12.3
St Colm’s High School	692	49.0	14.1
St Dominic’s High School	997	68.0	14.7
St Genevieve’s High School	947	65.0	14.6
St Louise’s Comprehen College	2,206	152.5	14.5
St Mary’s CB Grammar School	1,149	77.0	14.9
St Rose’s High School	561	44.4	12.6

Full time equivalent (FTE) pupil and teacher numbers and pupil:teacher ratios in special schools

School	FTE Pupils	FTE Teachers	Pupil: Teacher Ratio
St Francis De Sales Special School	24	3.0	8.0
St Gerard’s Ecuation Resource Centre	212	42.7	5.0

Full time equivalent (FTE) pupil and teacher numbers and pupil:teacher ratios in hospital schools

School	FTE Pupils	FTE Teachers	Pupil: Teacher Ratio
Belfast Hospital School	126	18.6	6.8

Full time equivalent (FTE) pupil and teacher numbers and pupil:teacher ratios in independent schools

School	FTE Pupils	FTE Teachers	Pupil: Teacher Ratio
Gaelscoil An Ghleanna	10	1.7	5.9
Gaelscoil An Lonnain	15	2.0	7.5

Special Needs Strategy

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Education to outline the strategy for special needs within the pre-school education system.

(AQW 1413/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The legislation on children with special educational needs taking part in pre-school education is set out in articles 17 to 33 of the Education (NI) Order 1998 and the Pre-School Education in Schools (Admissions Criteria) Regulations (NI) 1999. Further information is contained in my Department’s booklet ‘Investing in Early Learning’, the ‘Pre-School Education - what parents need to know’ leaflet and circular 2000/11 ‘Open Enrolment in Nursery Schools’. Such children are also subject to my Department’s code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs.

The Department has encouraged nursery schools to give priority to children with special needs within the admissions arrangements. If a child has a statement of special educational needs which specifies a nursery placement, he or she can be admitted over and above a school’s pre-school enrolment number. Many children with special needs will in any event be admitted to nursery education under the general criteria.

It is also intended that similar provision should be available in pre-school playgroups. To assist with this process, my Department has made available copies of the code on request to those playgroups which wish to have them, and education and library boards are required to consider arrangements to ensure appropriate support. Advice and support are also available from my Department’s Inspectorate. Wherever possible, provision for children with special educational needs within nursery schools, nursery classes in primary schools and pre-school playgroups should be integrated.

Under special education legislation, boards may make statements of special educational needs on children from age two and in certain instances on those under two. They may place children with statements of special educational needs from age two in nursery schools and from age three in nursery classes in primary schools, in which case they are not subject to the normal admissions arrangements. Provision may also be made for them in nursery classes at special schools, in special education units attached to primary schools and in toy and book libraries at special schools. Home teaching and advice to parents may be provided by pre-school peripatetic teachers or by pre-school teachers from special schools.

The overall intention of the strategy is that a choice of provision should be available for pre-school children with special educational needs, as it is for those of primary and secondary school age.

Pre-School Places

Ms Ramsey asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of pre-school places currently provided by (a) his Department, (b) voluntary groups and (c) community groups in each education and library board area.

(AQW 1415/00)

Mr M McGuinness: In the 1999-2000 school year, the latest for which complete figures are available, the Department of Education funded places in the statutory sector as follows:

Board Area	No. of Places
BELB	2,884
WELB	2,096
NEELB	2,344
SEELB	2,271
SELB	2,724
Total	12,319

In addition, in the 1999-2000 school year under the pre-school education expansion programme, the Department funded the following places in the voluntary and private sector:

Board Area	No. of Places
BELB	521
WELB	842
NEELB	910
SEELB	554
SELB	580
Total	3,407

In addition to those places funded under the expansion programme, many of the playgroups will offer additional places for which parents will pay. Some of the voluntary playgroups receiving funding may be community-based groups, but the Department does not hold records on that basis.

Bullying in Schools

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Education to confirm the number of bullying incidents that have taken place in each of the state controlled, Catholic maintained and integrated school sectors in the years 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

(AQW 1460/00)

Mr M McGuinness: As I indicated in the Written Answers Booklet for Tuesday 12 December 2000, data on incidents of bullying are not collected by my Department nor by the education and library boards. The information requested is therefore not available.

Special Schools

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Education to give his assessment of the impact of specialist schools on improving standards in education; and to make a statement.

(AQW 1526/00)

Mr M McGuinness: Under the law, parents of children with statements of special educational needs may name the school in which they wish their child to be placed. Many name a mainstream school, but others prefer their children to be placed in a special school where expertise has been developed in working with children with similar types of special educational needs. Educational provision in special schools is generally of a high standard and most teaching, by far, is satisfactory or better. I believe that there is a wealth of experience and expertise in our special schools, which could usefully be shared more widely with other mainstream schools; and I will be encouraging this as resources permit.

Youth Services

Mr Adams asked the Minister of Education to detail expenditure on youth services, excluding capital spending and European moneys, for the years 1990 to present in the parliamentary constituency of West Belfast.

(AQW 1540/00)

Mr M McGuinness: The information requested is not recorded by constituency. An approximate spend for the area provided by the Belfast Education and Library Board, on youth services, in the last 3 years is as follows:

	£
1997/98	800k
1998/99	840k
1999/2000	900k

The information in respect of earlier years is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

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