c.

1 ELIZABETH II

Model Northern
Ireland Assembly

Inclusive Education Act (Northern Ireland)

2017
TERM 2 CHAPTER 1

An Act make provision for the access of students to inclusive schooling.

[30th March 2017]

B E IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and

assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Definitions
1. An inclusive school is defined as a primary or secondary school which
(a) has an intake of all genders and sexes,
(b) does not select students on the basis of an entrance exam,
(c) is primarily English language-based, and
(d) has a non-religious curriculum.

Inclusive school funding

2.(1) Any school defined as an inclusive school shall receive an extra 5
percent funding, and
(a) this shall be defined as 5 percent of the pre-total of public funding
calculated by the Department of Education, and
(b) the necessary extra funding shall come from the Department of
Education.
(2) The Department of Education should assess necessary transition costs
involved with a school chosing to become an inclusive school, and match that
cost in the next funding grant to the school.

School diversification
3.(1) Any proposed new school in catchment areas where inclusive schools

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c. 1 Inclusive Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2017

make up either less than 20 percent of the total schools or 20 percent of student
numbers will need to follow the intake and curriculum requirement of inclusive
schools, and
(a) for the case of primary schools, the school numbers refer to primary
schools exclusively, and
(b) for the case of secondary schools, the school numbers refer to
secondary schools exclusively.
(2) Any proposed new non-integrated schools in catchment areas where
inclusive schools make up less than 30 percent of the total schools or 40 percent
of student numbers will need to demonstrate to the Department of Education a
local education requirement for that type of schooling, which can be on the basis
of
(a) language-medium schooling,
(b) gender or sex,
(c) examination results, or
(d) religious denomination.
(3) All schools must develop a programme that is submitted to the Department
of Education for approval, and then made publicly available, that demonstrates
how the school will encourage
(a) integrated links with the local community,
(b) a broad education in relation to diversity, and
(c) appropriate measures in relation to religious needs of students.

Extent, commencement, and short title

4.(1) This Act extends to the whole of Northern Ireland.
(2) This Act shall come into effect immediately upon its passing, except
section 3 which shall come into effect 3 months after its passing.
(3) This Act may be cited as the Inclusive Education Act (Northern Ireland)
2017.