Debate contribution: Schools: Temporary Variation Policy
Debate contribution by Mr Paul Givan on .
- MLA
- Mr Paul Givan
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 6 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Schools: Temporary Variation Policy
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5776918
Read the official Assembly record
Text
On 16 September, I launched a public consultation on the proposals to reform the temporary variation policy. The consultation seeks views on a more flexible approach to school admissions that places greater emphasis on parental preference. The proposals recognise that parents often choose an individual school rather than a sector and seek to ensure that, where a school has the capacity to accommodate additional pupils safely, greater weight can be given to parental preference. In particular, I am proposing a presumption of approval for temporary variation requests from primary schools and non-selective post-primary schools where sufficient capacity exists and where the school is satisfied that it can safely accommodate the additional pupils. I want the new policy to protect the rights of all children, however. Schools will therefore be able to take in additional children only where doing so does not adversely affect their ability to continue to accommodate children with special educational needs. The consultation also seeks views on providing greater flexibility for children who already hold a school place to transfer to another school where places are available and where that reflects parental preference. The proposals are intended to make fuller use of available school capacity, to increase the likelihood of children securing a place at their preferred school and to ensure that the admissions system is more responsive to the needs of children and families. All consultation responses will be carefully considered before final decisions are taken.
240 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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