The Education Authority (EA) and the Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) are delighted to launch a new self-evaluation tool to help all Integrated schools, regardless of age or management type, evaluate the nature, extent and quality of their Integrated ethos. 

(Pictured L-R) Launching A Framework for Integrated Education is Mary Potter Development Officer for NICIE, Paul Close EA Head of Service Shared Education & Sectoral Support, Frances Donnelly EA School Improvement Professional Sectoral Support and Sean Pettis, NICIE Chief Executive.

A Framework for Integrated Education, created by the EA and NICIE provides a three-phase developmental pathway for Integrated schools based on the key characteristics of school improvement and underpinned by the Statement of Principles for Integrated Education.   It covers a comprehensive series of Integration Indicators which are intended to support reflection and self-evaluation by encouraging conversations about Integrated Education across all levels of the school community.  

The Framework’s focus on supporting Integrated schools to engage with ethos and practice reflects the Education Training Inspectorate’s (ETI) current emphasis on school vision and culture and will assist Integrated schools in responding to the Inspectorate’s new core questions.  It is particularly relevant to schools which are involved in the process of Transformation, but established Integrated schools that are experiencing significant changes in staff or leadership may also find it a useful resource.  

EA Sectoral Support and NICIE have deliberately designed the Framework to fully complement NICIE’s Excellence in Integrated Education Award.  An Integrated school actively engaged with the Framework will be in a strong position to map its progress across to the Excellence in Integrated Education Award (EIEA) audit tool in preparation for further development work and external assessment. 

Collectively, both resources provide a detailed guide that Integrated schools can use to grow, develop and sustain a recognised high level of quality integrated practice.

You can access the Framework on the EA Integrated Education Hub Integrated Education Hub – A Framework For Integrated Education

For further information contact Frances Donnelly at frances.donnelly@eani.org.uk or Cliodhna Scott-Wills at cscott-wills@nicie.org.uk

(Pictured L-R) is Paul Close EA Head of Service Shared Education & Sectoral Support, Heather McKenzie Schools’ Support Officer for CSSC, Maurice Girvin Irish Medium Integrated Education Team DE and Sean Pettis, NICIE Chief Executive.