Independent Panel to review situation at De La Salle College, Belfast

Education Minister, John O’Dowd, has appointed an independent panel to investigate the current situation at De La Salle College, Belfast.

Commenting today, the Minister said:

“Last week I announced my intention to commission an independent investigation regarding the current situation at De La Salle College. I am announcing today that I have appointed a three member panel to conduct this investigation – Mr John Corey, former General Secretary of the trade union NIPSA; Ms Marie-Thérèse McGivern, Principal and Chief Executive of Belfast Metropolitan College; and Sir Robert Salisbury, former professor in the School of Education at the University of Nottingham.

“I consider the panel members to be eminently well qualified and experienced to investigate the circumstances in the school and to make recommendations to ensure the school’s future going forward.

“Work continues to be undertaken by the relevant authorities to address the immediate concerns within the school, including the appointment of an additional Associate Principal.

“My priority continues to be to the pupils at the school and this investigation will give pupils, parents, staff and their representatives and all those involved with the governance of the school the opportunity to express their view.”

It is anticipated that the independent panel will report back to the Department of Education with recommendations by early summer.

Notes to editors: 

1. Mr John Corey was General Secretary of the trade union NIPSA from 2003–2010 and previously held other senior trade union positions with NIPSA. He is currently a member of the NI Human Rights Commission and is on the Labour Relations Agency’s panel of Arbitrators/Independent Appeal Chairpersons. He is also an alternate member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and currently Vice-Chairperson of the Trustee Board of Citizens Advice Ards and North Down.
2. Marie-Thérèse McGivern is the Principal and Chief Executive of Belfast Metropolitan College. She began her career as a teacher in further education moving to develop policy for the youth service in the 1990's and went on to become a Director of Development at Belfast City Council. Ms McGivern is a member of the CBI Council NI, a member of the Association of Colleges World Skills Portfolio Group, a board member of the Titanic Foundation, a non-executive Director of the Strategic Investment Board, and has honorary membership of the City and Guilds of London Institute. She is also a non-executive Director of Bombardier NI.
3. Sir Robert Salisbury was a professor in the School of Education at the University of Nottingham and before this the Head teacher of The Garibaldi School in Forest Town, Mansfield, Notts. More recently he chaired the Literacy and Numeracy Task Force here and he also lead the independent panel to undertake the review of the Common Funding Scheme for schools. Sir Robert has a national and international reputation for his thought-provoking ideas on leadership styles and staff motivation in schools.
4. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office Tel: 028 9127 9207. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 99 715 440 and your call will be returned.

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