Debate contribution: Education Inspections Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Mrs Julie Middleton on .
- MLA
- Mrs Julie Middleton
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 1 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Education Inspections Bill: Second Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5581617
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I support the passing of the Education Inspections Bill at Second Stage. Is there anyone here who does not stand with our teachers? I do not think so. The Assembly should have one aim: to make the lives of the people of Northern Ireland better. There is no greater way for us to collectively achieve that than by investing in our future leaders: our brilliant children and young people. At the outset, I make it abundantly clear that the Bill is not about penalising our schools or our talented educators; it is, as the Minister outlined, designed to empower them. As someone who started her career in the classroom, I am acutely aware of the passion, love, hours of tireless work and incredible work ethic that our teachers put in when it comes to the pupils in their classrooms. Our teachers care so deeply about the work that they carry out that any proposed change needs to be approached sensitively so that there can be no doubt that they have our full support and encouragement. The Bill leaves room for the creation of a more modern, transparent and robust inspection framework that prioritises the safeguarding of our school pupils. Like my colleagues, I am a supporter of our schools, our teachers and all the staff in those settings. Our teachers deserve an inspection system that works with them, identifying areas of excellence and, where challenges present themselves, offering practical, realistic pathways to improvement. I want the education system in Northern Ireland to be world class in every way, and I am of the firm belief — I know that many Members agree — that proper and robust inspection processes allow that. I do not wish to believe that there is anyone in the Chamber who does not care deeply about the safeguarding and the excellence in education that our children and young people receive and rightfully deserve. However, I put it on the record that, whilst social media can be an immense power for good, using it to play political football on issues pertaining to our children and young people is simply wrong, and, when the full narrative is not published, it is, at best, unhelpful. Accountability to the people of Northern Ireland is a fundamental pillar of the good governance that each of us has committed to carrying out. It goes without saying that parents across Northern Ireland have a right to know exactly how their children's school settings are performing. Parents, pupils and school settings deserve an inspection system that is reliable, thorough and fair, and I know that teachers share that mindset; therefore, it is imperative to protect it in our law. It is a reality, as opposed to an idea, that action short of strike has affected ETI inspection processes in the past number of academic years, as is clearly stated in published reports of inspections that were impacted on by such action. Let us be clear today about what the proposed legislation would provide legal standing for. It would provide for detailed, independent evaluation of the quality of the education that is delivered to and the learning that is experienced by our children and young people. It would provide better safeguarding and child protection for our children and young people; surely, nothing that we will discuss today is more important than that. The worthy goal of inspection, carried out by ETI using an independent method, is to promote the highest standards of education and to provide assurances that school settings provide a high standard of education while maintaining a safe and effective learning environment. Inspection is essential when it comes to safeguarding and acts as a sound method for improvement in our educational facilities. If there is, as I believe there to be, a genuine desire for Northern Ireland to have an inspection system that works as envisioned, legislative change is required to enable independent inspection activity to be carried out at all times. We have an Education Minister who is fully committed to reducing the workload pressures that our teachers have told us that they face. Minister Givan is also committed to reforming education support services. Let us be clear: he has no desire to undermine the right to strike. As in all other jurisdictions in the United Kingdom and Ireland, he is not seeking to remove it. As he has previously proven, he will always work to mediate and, importantly, listen. To best allow for the reforms that will help our teaching staff and pupils, inspections are imperative. There must therefore be no barriers to their taking place. We have to put our amazing teachers, our school staff and, importantly, our children and young people — our very future — at the forefront here.
791 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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