News

Two-thirds of schools failed to offer enough exam choice through scheme facing cash cut

The idea was that all post-primary schools would, by law, offer access to 27 subjects at A-level and 24 at GCSE
The idea was that all post-primary schools would, by law, offer access to 27 subjects at A-level and 24 at GCSE The idea was that all post-primary schools would, by law, offer access to 27 subjects at A-level and 24 at GCSE

ALMOST two out of every three schools failed to ever offer enough exam subjects through a scheme which has now had its funding cut in half.

Schools have been told that cash for the `entitlement framework' is to be reduced by £2 million due to "pressures on the education budget".

The entitlement framework was designed to ensure every child, regardless of background or school, could access the same curriculum.

The idea was that all post-primary schools would, by law, offer access to 27 subjects at A-level and 24 at GCSE - but some small schools fell way short by offering just six.

As many would be unable to reach the targets alone, the plan was that schools would form partnerships.

Former education minister Peter Weir later said schools would only have to offer 21 subjects at GCSE and A-level.

Reducing the specified number, he said, should provide flexibility and enable schools to manage their resources better in challenging times.

Now, the department has cut funding. It had been considering options to reduce spending across all programme areas, including the clothing allowance (uniform grants), extended schools and the entitlement framework.

The funding is to be cut by 43.5 per cent.

While it is a legislative requirement, the Department of Education has never imposed any sanctions against schools failing to meet the targets. A total of 119 of 202 post-primary providers were found to not be offering the full range. They included some grammar schools.

The department said it had now finalised its funding decisions to enable it to remain within its indicative budget whilst also minimising any impact on its core early years, youth and school services to children.

"The department recognises the importance of the services provided in meeting the requirements of the entitlement framework, but given its current financial position, it cannot continue to provide the existing level of funding without having to implement further reductions to the department's core services," a spokeswoman said.

"There are a range of funding mechanisms in place to support schools and it is best that individual schools have the freedom to manage how they deploy their own budgets."

The Ulster Teachers' Union previously said an "attack" on the entitlement framework could re-entrench barriers.

The basics of the entitlement framework, the union, said, blurred the lines between selective and non-selective schools and between state controlled and Catholic maintained schools.