The Committee for Education is undertaking an Inquiry into Shared and Integrated Education.

This presents an opportunity to promote in the strongest fashion the case for the expansion of Integrated Education (IE). It allows for schools to present evidence on the unique model of Integrated Education from the perspective of the experience of your school.

We are encouraging every integrated school to submit an individual response to this inquiry. Doing so will enable you to showcase the work of your school, to involve all of the school community in reflecting on what it means to be a member of an integrated school community and, through doing so, to deepen your integrated ethos.

The Terms of Reference are as follows –

The Education Committee will:

• Review the nature and definition of Shared Education and Integrated Education as it applies across all  educational  phases  –  including  consideration  of  the  need  for  a  formal  statutory definition and an obligation in statute to facilitate and encourage Shared Education;
• Identify the key barriers and enablers for Shared Education and Integrated Education;
• Identify  and  analyse  alternative  approaches  and  models  of  good  practice  in  other jurisdictions in terms of policy interventions and programmes;
• Consider  what  priorities  and  actions  need  to  be  taken  to  improve  sharing  and integration  –  including the effectiveness of the relevant parts of the CRED policy; the need to engage more effectively with parents/carers; and the role of Special Schools; and
• Report to the Assembly on its findings and recommendations by Spring 2015.

The Committee agreed to set the deadline for submissions to the Inquiry as 24 October 2014. Submissions should be made by email to committee.education@niassembly.gov.uk

See here for the inquiry: http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Assembly-Business/Committees/Education/Calls-for-Evidence/Inquiry-into-SharedIntegrated-Education/