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Measuring Demand for Integrated Education

ARK Report on Research Methods for Assessing Demand for Integrated Education in Northern Ireland.

ARK - Paper

Educational stakeholders in Northern Ireland currently use a range of methods to assess parental demand for Integrated Education. However, these have limitations and for instance do not adequately reflect the preferences of parents that don’t have an Integrated school in their local area.

A new report by the ARK team at Queen’s University Belfast confirms that, due to the complexity of the Northern Ireland education system, the methods currently used are not sufficient and highlights two key recommendations:

  • Demand for Integrated Education could be better captured through qualitative and mixed-methods research, utilising the existing school admissions portal and the design of more appropriate survey questions;
  • Promoting a greater understanding of Integrated Education and “its unique contribution to the education system in Northern Ireland” is necessary in order to improve our understanding of demand for Integrated Education.  For example, “promoting the added value of integrated schools academically, pastorally and through extra-curricular activities,” as well as “increasing the availability and accessibility of information on integrated education for parents, children and young people”.

Dr Erin Early, Lead Researcher on the project, Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast and ARK Associate, commented:

“The team at ARK was delighted to complete this important project, to make recommendations on best practice for measuring demand for Integrated Education among parents and help inform the implementation of the Integrated Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.”

The Integrated Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 puts greater emphasis on the assessment of levels of parental demand for Integrated Education in relation to education planning and decisions on education provision.  This is important when it comes to the opening of a new school, school closures and proposals for schools transforming to Integrated status.

The Integrated Education Fund (IEF) commissioned ARK to complete a research project to highlight and assess current methods used to measure parental demand for Integrated Education, as well as identify and evaluate other alternative methods that have the potential to be used in the context of implementing the Integrated Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

This research project is supported by an advisory group with representation from the Integrated Education Fund, the Department of Education (DE), the Education Authority (EA) and the Council for Integrated Education (NICIE).

A spokesperson from the Department of Education said:

“The Department will consider the findings of this research project to assess it’s potential to help inform the Department’s implementation of the Integrated Education Act.”

Paul Close, Head of Shared Education & Sectoral Support at the Education Authority, adds:

“This research represents a significant opportunity for educational stakeholders to reflect on the practice used to measure parental demand for Integrated Education moving forward in planning future education provision.” 

June Wilkinson, Integrated Education Fund Director, states:

“ARK’s research encourages our key educational stakeholders to consider best practice in terms of current and alternative methods for measuring demand.  We look forward to working with DE, EA and Council for Integrated Education to ensure that Integrated Education is made available to parents where there is demand for it.”