Questions still to be answered on new schools body's practical help for teachers and backing for threatened Christian ethos, says UUP's Jon Burrows

That’s according to the man who looks set to be the UUP’s next leader, MLA Jon Burrows. Although he feels the new advocacy and leadership body announced today is well intended, he wants to know what it will actually do for front-line teachers struggling against poorly-maintained buildings and who feel unsupported when trying to discipline unruly pupils.

And in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling two months that declared Christian-focused Religious Education in Northern Irish schools unlawful, he also queried what the organisation will do to back what may now be a threatened ethos.

“I said at the outset of this ruling that we must have absolute clarity and assurance that controlled schools can continue to uphold their historic Christian-based ethos within the legal requirement for denominational Religious Education, without undue restriction,” he told the News Letter.

Mr Burrows, currently the UUP’s education spokesman but almost certain to take the reins of the party later this month, added that “what principals and teaching staff need most is delivery and practical support”, questioning whether the new body would provide it.

“School buildings are not being maintained when problems arise,” he said. “The inflated cost of procured maintenance and equipment is devastating school budgets, too few teachers feel supported in dealing with the small minority of disruptive pupils, and the pace of consultations and change is currently overwhelming.

“New structures are not a panacea; leadership, listening, and delivery are required.”

He added that full proposals to set up the new body will be checked to make sure it “protects the sector’s distinctive character while delivering the improvements all schools deserve, not only in governance structures but also in day-to-day support and delivery”.

Meanwhile the TUV stated government-run schools “have been disadvantaged” in comparison to the Catholic and Integrated sectors, but argued the creation of an advocacy and leadership organisation “does not in itself address these issues”.

Said Carrick councillor David Clarke: “Ultimately, the value of this proposal will be judged by its impact in the classroom. Structural reform must translate into better outcomes for pupils, not just new governance arrangements.

“In principle, the idea of a distinct voice for the controlled sector is worthy of consideration, but there remains a clear need for much more detail and substance before these proposals can be properly assessed.”

Away from the political reaction, the Controlled Schools’ Support Council concluded today’s announcement is “a significant milestone in the journey” towards “focused, equitable support for the controlled sector”.

The council’s chief executive, Mark Baker, felt the Northern Ireland Executive should “support the bringing forward of legislation” to create the new body, stating it will “ensure equitable support for all controlled schools”.

He said: “All schools across all sectors deserve the same level of support. We cannot afford for this not to be the case for the controlled sector.

“Importantly, this is not about creating new costs or duplication. It is envisaged that the new body will be created primarily from existing organisations and resources.

“This is about better utilising what we already have, not adding additional layers to the system.”