Education Minister welcomes NIAO report on the quality of education in Northern Ireland

Date published: 2 April 2026

Commenting on the Report, Paul Givan said: “I welcome this report and its clear recognition that high‑quality education is fundamental to the wellbeing of our children and to the future prosperity of Northern Ireland.” 

“I note the report’s conclusion that significant gaps in system‑wide performance data, particularly at Key Stages 1–3, have limited the ability to monitor progress, target support and evaluate policy impact.”

“The report rightly highlights the importance of having reliable, comprehensive and earlier assessment information to support children’s learning. TransformED is already addressing this by introducing new system‑level checks in literacy and numeracy at ages 8, 11 and 14, and this will be strengthened further by the new assessments recommended by the Independent Review of Assessment.”

The Minister also acknowledged the NIAO’s finding that nearly a decade of disrupted school inspections caused primarily by industrial action has significantly reduced assurance on teaching quality, safeguarding and provision for children with Special Educational Needs.

Commenting on the Report’s findings, the Minister said: “Inspection is vital. It provides independent assurance to parents, supports schools to improve and helps the system understand whether public money is delivering the best outcomes for every child.  The report highlights the disruption caused by Action Short of Strike and the increased risk that pupils were not receiving adequate support. We cannot allow a return to the situation where inspectors are unable to carry out their statutory responsibilities.”

“To ensure this does not happen again, my Department has brought forward new legislation to support and protect the inspection process. I call on all political parties to support the proposed legislation. Northern Ireland must no longer remain the only jurisdiction on these islands without any legal protections for school inspection.” 

The Report also places a spotlight on the importance of the TransformED Strategy, which provides a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening assessment, accountability, tackling educational disadvantage and driving system-wide improvement.

The Minister concluded: “TransformED represents the most significant programme of educational reform in more than a decade. Its reforms to assessment, school improvement, inspection and accountability directly address the issues highlighted in today’s report. We urge all stakeholders to get behind this work so that every child in Northern Ireland benefits from a high‑quality, equitable education.”

“I am committed to building a modern, data‑rich, high‑trust education system in which every learner can thrive. The NIAO report provides important external scrutiny, and the Department will act swiftly to implement the recommendations and fully realise the ambitions set out in TransformED.”