A major report which found an ongoing failure to address issues with special educational needs (SEN) provision by the Department of Education and Education Authority (EA) is yet more evidence of the need for a review of the sector, Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said. The report, by the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, […]
Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said the impact of disrupted learning for pupils must be mitigated, after the Education Minister confirmed schools here will calculate GCSE, AS and A-Level grades for students. Peter Weir told the Assembly exams body CCEA would then review the grades. It marks a difference from the 2020 method of […]
More must be done to support teachers, parents and pupils in remote learning, Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said, after it was announced most pupils would not return to schools until March 8 at the earliest. First Minister Arlene Foster made the announcement after a recommendation from Education Minister Peter Weir. Special schools […]
Alliance Party Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw has welcomed the Health Department’s announcement that a programme of weekly testing for pupils and staff in special educational needs schools is set to be carried out in Northern Ireland. Testing is due to begin at the start of February, subject to business case approval. Paula said: “I welcome […]
Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has said a contingency admissions criteria for post-primary transfer is urgently needed, after months of frustration and distress for pupils, parents and teachers. Speaking after AQE announced the full cancellation of its tests, Chris, Chair of Stormont’s Education Committee, said: “I acknowledge the AQE apology for the distress caused by persistent […]
Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has reiterated calls for local universities to introduce ‘no detriment’ policies to protect student grades against the ongoing pandemic. The policy ensures as long as a student passes a module, their grade point average will not be affected, meaning they will not fall below their current overall mark. A number of […]
Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has called on the Education Minister and all parties to show leadership after a number of grammar schools confirmed they would not be using transfer tests this year. Further to an increasing number of schools announcing they would not use tests, Mr Lyttle, Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, said Alliance […]
Children due to sit the post-primary transfer tests and their parents deserve urgent clarity on contingency plans now the tests will not proceed as planned, Alliance Education spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said. Mr Lyttle was speaking after AQE and PPTC would not proceed in January, only days before the first was due to take […]
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has called on the Health Minister to make a clear statement on the risk involved with private tests taking place in school halls, as such arrangements seem contrary to current coronavirus regulations. The South Belfast MLA said any gathering in an indoor sitting, such as the first transfer test […]
The Education Minister has failed to take control of post primary transfer this year despite consistent calls for contingency planning throughout the pandemic, Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has said. The Chair of Stormont’s Education Committee, Mr Lyttle said ‘the Minister, the Association of Quality Education, the Post Primary Transfer Consortium and selective schools have deemed […]