Planning and strategy

I110Reporting

1

The Department of Education must prepare or commission and publish a report on integrated education—

a

during the period of 2 years beginning with the date on which this Act receives Royal Assent; and

b

at subsequent intervals in line with the budget framing timetable but not more frequently than every three years.

2

A report must include, in particular, an assessment of performance of functions relating to integrated education under—

a

this Act;

b

the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989;

c

section 2(3A) of the Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (inserted by section 4 of this Act); and

d

any other provision of Northern Ireland legislation.

3

A report must include, in particular, an assessment in relation to the reporting period of—

a

the manner in which, and the extent to which, the Department of Education has performed its functions in respect of integrated education;

b

the manner in which, and the extent to which, other education bodies have performed their functions in respect of integrated education;

c

the levels of demand for and supply of integrated education;

d

increase or decrease in levels of demand for and supply of integrated education since the previous reporting period;

e

successes and failures in respect of the provision of integrated education; and

f

the extent to which the purpose of integrated education has been achieved.

4

Wherever possible, the assessments in the report must operate by reference to benchmarks identified in the action plan in the integrated education strategy.

5

The Department of Education must—

a

lay each report before the Assembly; and

b

cooperate with any post-legislative scrutiny exercise carried out by the Assembly or any Committee of the Assembly in relation to the report.

6

As soon as is reasonably practicable after the publication of a report the Department of Education must review and where necessary revise the integrated education strategy.