R.J. Cormack

Higher education participation in Northern Ireland

Higher education participation in Northern Ireland is higher than England and Wales and second only to Scotland. This paper charts the progress of participation and examines its social characteristics. Uniquely within the UK, approximately one-third of Northern Ireland entrants come from working class backgrounds. Catholic and female participation has also increased significantly but the participation of mature entrants is lower than in the rest of the UK. High participation levels have been achieved, however, by large numbers of entrants leaving to study in Scotland and England. There is a significant undersupply of higher education places in Northern Ireland when compared with either Scotland or Wales. With the costs of higher education being increasingly borne by individual students and their families there is already evidence that more students would prefer to remain in Northern Ireland to study. Increasing pressure on places is driving up A-level entry requirements and many students are forced to leave Northern Ireland to study or not to study in higher education. These developments threaten the advances made by particular social groups. Lifting the MASN cap in Northern Ireland is a significant policy objective.

Religion, equity and education in Northern Ireland

Abstract For some years concern has been expressed about the lower qualifications of leavers from Catholic schools in Northern Ireland in comparison with leavers from Protestant schools. The paper outlines research carried out for the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights on possible contributory factors to this attainment gap. The research highlighted the effects of different funding arrangements for Catholic schools and a shortage of grammar school places in the Catholic sector, and recommended proactive measures by government to deal with these issues. The recommendations were based on equity principles and were argued as being consistent with declared government policy on fair employment in Northern Ireland on religious grounds. Following the research findings the Government announced extra funds to increase grammar school provision in Catholic schools and changed the arrangements for capital grants to permit Catholic schools to receive 100% grant. The paper suggests that the application of equ...

Education and Policy in Northern Ireland

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