NEWS

The Education Authority (EA) has confirmed more than 4,400 school places for children with special educational needs (SEN) ahead of the new academic year, but has warned that Northern Ireland’s current approach to meeting rising demand is “running out of road”. Officials say intensive work throughout the year has enabled thousands of children changing educational settings for September 2026 to receive confirmed placements, with work continuing over the summer to finalise the

Girls in Northern Ireland could soon be guaranteed the right to wear trousers to school under proposed legislation progressing through the Assembly, with North Antrim MLA and Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows describing the move as a matter of “common sense and personal choice”. The UUP leader and the party’s education spokesperson welcomed the Bill’s progress after supporting its Second Stage debate in the Assembly on Wednesday, July 1. The legislation seeks to ensure

(L-R) Samantha Dunlop and Katie McNeilly who are representing Ballymena Academy in the ABP Angus Youth Challenge. Two Ballymena Academy students have returned from an intensive four-day study tour after reaching the final of one of the agri-food industry’s most prestigious youth competitions. Year 11 pupils Samantha Dunlop and Katie McNeilly were selected as one of just four finalist teams from across Northern Ireland in the 2026 ABP Angus Youth Challenge, securing a place am

Parents across Northern Ireland could soon have a stronger say in where their children go to school under plans unveiled by Education Minister Paul Givan to overhaul the current admissions system. The proposed changes would make it easier for schools to increase pupil numbers where there is parental demand, even in cases where families currently miss out on their preferred choice despite places being available elsewhere in the education system. Announcing the reforms in a Wri

Children with special educational needs across Northern Ireland are now expected to wait an extra year for long-promised improvements to support services after the implementation of new SEN regulations was pushed back until September 2027. The delay has sparked a political row at Stormont, with Education Minister Paul Givan expressing “serious concern” over what he says will be the direct impact on children, families and schools, while Alliance MLA and Education Committee Cha

Inset: Ulster Unionist Party education spokesperson and party leader Jon Burrows The appointment of a new independent behaviour adviser for Northern Ireland schools must lead to meaningful change in classrooms rather than simply creating another title, Ulster Unionist education spokesperson and party leader Jon Burrows has said. Responding to Education Minister Paul Givan’s announcement this week of a review of school behaviour policy and the appointment of behaviour expert T

Education Minister Paul Givan pictured with Tom Bennett who will lead on a review of behaviour policy and practice across schools. The way behaviour is managed in schools across Northern Ireland is set for a major review after Education Minister Paul Givan announced an independent examination aimed at helping teachers deal with increasingly complex behavioural challenges in the classroom. The review will shape a new Department of Education Behaviour Policy and updated practic

Groggan Primary School recently marked the occasion as principal Cathy Humphrey prepares to retire from a lifetime dedicated to education “That I cared.” After a lifetime spent helping children learn, grow and find their place in the world, that is how retiring Groggan Primary School principal Cathy Humphrey MBE hopes former pupils will remember her. For a woman who was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List in 2023 with an MBE for services to education in Northern Ir

Northern Regional College, Ballymena campus Northern Regional College is celebrating a major achievement after being shortlisted in four categories at the 2026 OCN NI Learning Endeavour Awards, recognising both the success of individual learners and the College’s wider contribution to education and skills development across Northern Ireland. The College has been named as a finalist for the coveted Provider of the Year award, while three learners have also secured places on th

Past CAFRE student William Burnett, alongside Nicola, Abigail, Matthew and Callum Turner viewed the dairy calves at Greenmount Campus. Thousands of people stepped behind the gates of CAFRE campuses at Enniskillen and Greenmount over the weekend as this year’s Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend combined hands-on learning, family fun and a closer look at Northern Ireland’s farming and food industries. From primary school pupils meeting farm animals for the first time to families

The risk of schools being forced to close because of deteriorating buildings is growing across Northern Ireland, with the Education Authority warning that years of underfunding have left the schools estate facing a maintenance backlog estimated at between £600 million and £800 million. The stark warning comes as the Education Authority (EA) says it is rapidly approaching a point where schools – or parts of schools – may have to close on safety grounds because essential repair

Pictured (L-R) Matthew Best, Greenisland Primary School, Christine Counsell OBE, Chair of the Curriculum Taskforce, Mark Roberts, Carrickfergus Grammar School, Education Minister, Paul Givan, Noeleen Tiffney, St Catherine's College, Karen Irwin, Ballyclare Primary School and Alistair Hamill, Lurgan College. Education Minister Paul Givan has launched what he described as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reshape education in Northern Ireland, unveiling plans for a comple

Mrs Valerie Alexander, Dunclug College What began as a journey from Ballymena to some of the poorest communities in India has grown into a life-changing mission that has transformed opportunities for countless young people — and earned one local teacher national recognition in The King’s Birthday Honours. Mrs Valerie Alexander, a driving force behind Dunclug College’s long-standing partnership with the ASHA Society in New Delhi, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM)

County Antrim man David Radcliffe, awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours 2026 County Antrim man David Radcliffe has spent decades shaping young lives in classrooms across Northern Ireland, overcome cancer not once but twice, returned to work after losing a leg, inspired countless pupils through his determination, and even captured the hearts of television viewers on a national game show. Now, his extraordinary contribution has been recognised with an MBE in the King’s

Education Minister Paul Givan The Education Minister has launched a major new phase of Northern Ireland’s curriculum reform programme, announcing plans to create bespoke curriculum frameworks for Special Schools and Irish-medium education after a review found the current curriculum is not adequately meeting the needs of many pupils. The move marks a significant shift in how education is delivered to thousands of children and young people, with dedicated working groups set to

Ballymena Future leaders take flight with Belfast City Airport’s IGNITE Youth Leadership Programme (pictured with Kieran Devlin, Operations and Facilities Director of Northern Ireland Civil Service Sports Association, Jenna Louise Dowds, and Michelle Hatfield Chief People and Marketing Officer at Belfast City Airport) A student from Ballymena is among 31 young people to graduate from a leadership programme designed to help teenagers build confidence, develop life skills and p

Pupils due to sit public exams across Northern Ireland this afternoon have been urged to travel to their examination centres as early as possible amid growing concerns over potential disruption linked to recent protests and street disorder. The warning comes as education officials monitor the fallout from ongoing unrest and unverified social media claims about further planned demonstrations later today, raising fears that some students and school communities could face travel

Pictured staff from Kirkinriola Primary School, Ballymena: (L-R) Viola Stewart SEN classroom assistant, Emily McCaffrey Principal, Emma Laird SEN classroom assistant, Chloe Parr teacher, Gillian Todd classroom assistant, Emma Lee Adams SEN classroom assistant, Jodi Crawford teacher and Naomi Quaite SEN classroom assistant. A Ballymena school community is preparing to walk, scoot and rally together this week in support of a nine-year-old pupil facing the fight of her life aft

(L-R) Edwina Weiniger, Stepping Stones Chairperson, Elaine Loughran, Principal Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Education Minister, Paul Givan, Alan Herron, Playboard NI CEO and Susan Williams, SEN Inclusive Play Project Coordinator, Playboard NI with pupils. An ambitious new programme designed to reshape how children with special educational needs experience learning through play has officially launched in Northern Ireland, with dozens of schools set to benefit over the

Pupils from Armoy Primary School Children at Armoy Primary School have been learning a startling lesson about one of the world’s most essential resources after discovering that just 1% of the planet’s water is drinkable. The eye-opening fact formed part of a visit by NI Water’s education team, which delivered a series of interactive sessions focused on water conservation and the importance of using water responsibly. Pupils took part in games, practical demonstrations and act