On Tuesday 4 March the Minister informed the Assembly that she was putting in place a process and structures to take forward an area based look at post- primary provision.
The Minister said: “I said in the Assembly that I was setting up a central group with an independent chairperson and vice chairperson to oversee the exercise, and five area groups at local level, again chaired by independent persons. The area groups, which will work in sub areas that reflect the distribution of educational provision, will be broadly based on education and library board areas, but the boundaries will have to be flexible to take account of the flows of children rather than fixed boundaries.
“I am delighted to be able to announce today that seven highly respected members of our community who have contributed significantly to education in the North of Ireland have agreed to act as chairpersons of the various groups. I am very grateful for their cooperation and look forward to receiving the outcomes of their deliberations.
”Establishing these groups is an important stage in the programme of major reforms I am progressing to improve our education system.”
Nominees:
Adeline Dinsmore, currently Principal of Ashfield Girls High School in Belfast will be chairperson of the central group.
Joe Martin, former Chief Executive of the Western Education and Library Board will be deputy chairperson of the central group.
Tom Shaw, former Chief Inspector in the Education and Training Inspectorate will chair the Belfast area group.
Pat McAleavey, Principal of St Patrick’s High School, Keady will chair the southern area group.
Maighréad Martin, former Principal of St Catherine’s College, Armagh will chair the south eastern area group.
John Young, former Principal of Sullivan Upper School in Holywood will chair the north eastern area group.
Revd Robert Herron, Vice Chairperson of the Transferor Representative’s Council will chair the western area group.
The local groups will report regularly to the central group with final reports in October 2008 and consultation on the plans will be completed by January 2009.
Notes to Editors:
1. For media enquiries contact the Department of Education Press Office, Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.
2. Details of those appointed to the area planning groups are as follows:
Adeline Dinsmore will be chairperson of the central group.
Adeline Dinsmore is principal of Ashfield Girls’ High School in East Belfast and is committed to raising the aspirations and expectations of all of the students at Ashfield. She is also passionate about the capacity of information and learning technologies to empower learners. The school has recently been accorded specialist status for ICT and this will allow for the further development of ICT/ILT reaching beyond the school to develop new communities of learners. Adeline has won awards for promoting the use of information and learning technologies and has given presentations in many countries.
Last year, she represented the North of Ireland at the Microsoft Innovative Teachers Forum in Philadelphia. The school hosts many visits from professionals from across the globe looking at good practice in the classroom and at the leadership style which has effected radical and innovative change. Adeline was awarded the OBE for her services to education in 2006.
Joe Martin, former Chief Executive of the Western Education and Library Board, will be deputy chairperson of the central group.
A graduate of the National University of Ireland, Joe Martin taught in the post-primary sector for eleven years before joining the Western Education and Library Board in 1974. As Education Officer he had responsibility for primary and post-primary education, as well as for the Further Education sector. As Senior Education Officer for Property Services from 1989-1994, he was responsible for the planning and development of the Board’s education estate. He served as Chief Executive of the Board from 1995 until 2004.
He has chaired a number of education bodies - the Adult Education Committee, the Committee for the Early Professional Development of Teachers, and Classroom 2000 (C2k).
Currently, he is a member of the Governing Body of the South West College of Further and Higher Education and is Chair of its Audit Committee.
Tom Shaw, former Chief Inspector in the Education and Training Inspectorate will chair the Belfast area group.
Mr Shaw was appointed Chief Inspector of the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) in 1995 and retired from that post in August 2000. In total, he has some 27 years experience as an inspector in the Province. He has participated in inspections and educational evaluation in Britain and contributed to international conferences and seminars on quality assurance in schools throughout Europe and in Australia and New Zealand. As Deputy Chief Inspector and then as Chief Inspector he had strong links with the Inspectorates in Scotland, Wales, England and the South of Ireland throughout the 1990s when inspection services were developing their processes and procedures to achieve greater openness, effectiveness and accountability.
Following retirement, he served as a member of the Ministerial Working Group set up to review post-primary education.
In 2002 he was appointed Co-Chair of the Working Party set up by the four main Christian churches to review the compulsory Core Syllabus for Religious Education in all schools.
In 2004 he was commissioned by the Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta, the umbrella body for Irish medium education, to assess the implications of the reform of post-primary education for its second level provision.
In 2005 he was commissioned by the Scottish Minister for Education and Young People to undertake an independent review of the legislative provisions in Scotland to ensure the safety and well-being of children in residential schools and children’s homes across the period 1950 to 1995.
He is a Trustee of the National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland and chairs the McCord Bursary Trust, a charity established to promote Art Education.
His interests include the visual and performing arts, travel, gardening and Church work. He is Clerk of Session of a Presbyterian Church in Bangor, Co. Down.
He was made a CBE in 1999 for his services to education.
Patrick McAleavey, Principal of St Patrick’s High School, Keady will chair the southern area group.
Mr McAleavey graduated from QUB in 1964 with a BA in English. His post-graduate qualifications include: Diploma in Social Studies, QUB, 1965; Diploma in Education, QUB, 1967; Diploma in Educational Management, UUJ, 1980; MSc in Educational Management, UUJ, 1989.
He was awarded the OBE in 1996 for his contribution to education.
He worked as a Social Welfare Officer from 1965-1966, taught in St Paul’s High School, Lurgan from 1967-1970 and joined St Patrick’s High School, Keady when it opened in 1970. He was appointed Vice Principal in 1974 and Principal in 1980.
A recent ETI Focused Inspection Report (April 2005) stated the first strength of the school as “the Principal’s outstanding leadership of the school community.”
Mr McAleavey successfully led the removal of selection in the area. From 1980 onwards there has been automatic transfer from the partner primary schools (now totalling nine).
St Patrick’s High School presently provides superb facilities for 1000+ pupils. It is a non-selective, co-educational, 11-18 school which caters for pupils of all abilities. Academic and vocational courses are offered at both 14+ and Sixth Form and the school is well placed to further expand its opportunities for pupils in line with the proposals for the Revised Curriculum and the Entitlement Framework.
The success rate at GCSE exceeds 75% 5A*-C. Almost all of the 200+ Sixth Form students will transfer to University. The annual attendance rate is consistently 95% or better.
Mr McAleavey has served on many bodies: Board member, SELB, 1999-2006; Vice Chair Education Committee; Chair (former) of SELB PPPA; NITEC member (former); Associate Assessor, DE; PQH Tutor; CCMS Assessor.
Maighréad Martin, former Principal of St Catherine’s College, Armagh will chair the south eastern area group.
Maighréad Martin began her teaching career at Dominican College, Fortwilliam Park Belfast and subsequently joined the teaching staff of Saint Catherine’s College in 1973 where she held a number of Senior Management posts before being appointed the first lay Principal of the school in 1991.
She was appointed the inaugural chairperson of the North/South Irish Language Body, Foras na Gaeilge, in December 1999.
Mrs Martin has served on many educational bodies, including: The Post-Primary Review Working Party; Chaired the Education and Broadcasting Council for BBC from 1994 – 2000; Member of the Education and Broadcasting Council; Former member of the Council of CEA (Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment), including one term as vice chair; Non-executive member of the Southern Health and Social Services Board.
Mrs Martin is currently the network co-ordinator for Sacred Heart Schools (Ireland, Scotland and Malta); a member of the national executive of Trócaire and a member of the radio authority RTE (Raidió na Gaeltachta).
Mrs Martin is married with five children. Hobbies include reading, walking and Gaelic games.
John Young, former Principal of Sullivan Upper School in Holywood will chair the north–eastern area group.
Born and educated in Belfast schools and at Oxford. Degree in Modern History in 1960.
Teacher at Queen’s University; Campbell College; Hereford VIth Form College from 1965 to 1976. Vice-Principal, Grosvenor High School from 1976 to 1980. Principal, Sullivan Upper School, Holywood from 1980 to 1998.
Other educational interests: Governor of Campbell College, Belfast, and Cranmore Integrated Primary School, Belfast; Associate Professional Development Officer, Regional Training Unit; Member of the Northern Ireland Panel of Judges for the Teaching Awards; Member of the Executive of the Governing Bodies Association.
Mr Young is married with two children. Interests include hill-walking, reading, politics and current affairs, jazz, travel and being in Donegal as much as possible.
Rev Robert Heron, Vice Chairperson of the Transferor Representative’s Council will chair the western area group.
The Rev Robert Herron is currently Chairperson of the Western Education and Library Board. He is also Convener of the Board of Education of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
Originally from County Down, he has lived in Tyrone for the past 25 years and has served on Boards of Governors of nursery, primary, secondary, grammar and special schools.
In the past, Rev Herron has held positions such as President of the Irish Council of Churches, Co-Chairman of the Irish Inter-Church Meeting and Convener of the Inter-Church Relations Board of the Presbyterian Church. He has represented the Irish Churches and the Presbyterian Church at national and international events.
