Borderwise Booklets
Issue 1
10th February 2008
Going North – Education
©
NIACAB (Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux)
This
information sheet aims to provide a general overview of the education system in
Northern Ireland (NI).
Going North – Education
Introduction
The Department of Education is responsible for the
administration of pre-school, primary and post-primary education in Northern Ireland. There are five Education and Library Boards which are local Education
Authorities. They have responsibility for ensuring adequate education provision
in their areas. The Department of Employment and Learning has responsibility
for further education. In NI is it compulsory for children to attend school
between the ages of four and sixteen.
Overview
The education system in Northern Ireland consists of
different types of schools under the control of management committees who are
also the employers of teachers.
- Controlled (nursery, primary, special, secondary and grammar
schools) are under the management of the schools Board of Governors and
the Employing Authorities are the five Education and Library Boards
- Maintained (nursery, primary, special and secondary) are under the
management of the Board of Governors and the Employing Authority is the
Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS)
- Other Maintained (primary, special and secondary)
- Voluntary (grammar), Integrated (primary and secondary) and
Institutions of Further and Higher Education – each school is under the
management of a Board of Governors.
Pre-school
Education
Pre-school education is a non-compulsory phase of education which is
designed for children who are in the year immediately before they enter Primary
1. In September 2007, free places will be available for over 90 percent of
children in their immediate pre-school year. These places will be available in
nursery schools, nursery classes in primary schools and voluntary or private
playgroups who take part in the scheme. Parents should contact their local
Education and Library Board for more information.
Primary Schools
Children attend
primary school in Northern Ireland between the ages of four and eleven. During
the final year at primary school pupils sit the 11+ transfer examination and their
transition to secondary education is based on academic selection. However the education minister
has recently outlined educational reforms which will include abolishing the
transfer examination from 2009. The final 11-plus transfer test will take place in 2008, after
which a choice of post-primary schools will be available to
parents and pupils. The Assembly is still to vote on an alternative to the
current academic selection.
Secondary
Schools
At present Secondary education is largely
selective with pupils going to grammar schools or secondary schools according
to academic ability. Pupils begin secondary school aged 11 or 12 and follow the
National Curriculum. At sixteen students sit their GCSE examinations which also
marks the end of compulsory education; At sixteen most students either transfer
to sixth form at secondary school or a Further Education College to study
A-Levels or vocational qualifications and training. The results of these
examinations determine entry in higher education.
Education Maintenance
Allowance
An allowance of
£60 per fortnight (2007 rates) is available to students aged 16-19 who stay on
at school after completing their GCSE’s. The grant is intended to help students
cover their day-today living costs.
You can get an EMA if:
- you are aged 16,
17, 18 or 19 years
- your household
income is below £30,810
- you are doing at
least 15 hours of guided learning at an FE college or studying full time
at school in Northern Ireland
Further information
is available at: www.delni.gov.uk
Further and
Higher Education
Third level
education is made up of a number of sectors:
Further Education
Colleges
Further education
comprises education and training which takes place after second level schooling.
In Northern Ireland there are six regional Further Education colleges were a
wide range of courses are provided including essential skills, vocational and
academic programmes as well as some Higher Education courses. Further
information is available online at www.delni.gov.uk
University
How to apply?
UCAS (University
and Colleges Admissions Service) is the central applications body for full-time
undergraduate courses at Northern Ireland universities and colleges and is the
equivalent of the CAO in Ireland. You can apply online through the UCAS
website or through your school or as an individual.
Financial
Support for Students
Student Loans
for Tuition fees
Northern Ireland universities and colleges can charge new
students up to £3,000 a year for undergraduate courses. You can apply for a
student loan for tuition fees which you only have to repay after you have
graduated and are earning over £15,000 a year. The fees will be paid directly
to the University or college on behalf of a student.
Student Loans
for Maintenance
Student Loans for
maintenance are designed to help students cover their living costs at
University. Interest on the loan is linked to inflation only, so what you repay
will be worth what you borrowed. Again you will only have to repay once you are
earning over £15,000 a year.
However, if you
are moving from THE Republic of Ireland to study you may not be entitled to
maintenance support in the same way as home students. If you have been settled
in Northern Ireland for over three years you will be classed as a home student
and will be able to apply for financial support for living costs.
Postgraduate
courses
The tuition fees
for postgraduate study vary from institution to institution and course to
course, but usually run to several thousand pounds. Postgraduate prospectuses
give up-to-date fees.
More detailed
information is available at: www.delni.gov.uk
Republic of Ireland Students
Maintenance
grants are available for ROI students studying approved Undergraduate courses
in the UK. Further information is available from the Department of Education
and Sciences website: www.education.ie
Adult Education
Educational
Guidance Service for Adults (EGSA)
EGSA advisers are
available by phone and in person to provide information, advice and guidance
on learning and career opportunities, with a Northern Ireland focus. EGSA has
an extensive database of information on formal and informal learning at all
levels including information on finance for learning.
For advice and more information call 0845 602 6632 or visit the website www.egsa.org.uk
Open
University
The Open
University (OU) is a distance learning University created for people who want
or need to study part-time from home. The OU caters for students who have no
formal qualifications. Students are provided with materials needed and many
courses include the opportunity for group tutorials or day schools. There are
13 Regional offices and 300 study schools throughout the UK. If you would like advice or more information contact;
The Open
University
40 University
Road
Belfast
BT7 1SU
www.open.ac.uk
Further
Education Colleges
Colleges of
Further Education provide a range of adult education programmes for those
wanting to return to education. For further information telephone 028 9026 5625
Further Education
Awards
Further Education
Awards normally fall into one of the three following categories;
- Under 19 Further
Education Awards
- Further Education
Awards
- Advanced Further
Education Awards
Contact your local Education and Library Board
for more information.