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ESA Background
The proposed arrangements for RPA in education were set out in policy papers published for consultation by DE in November 2006. The proposed arrangements for ESA are summarised below. Full copies of the policy papers are available on the DE website.
Overview of RPA Model for Education
The central focus of the proposed model for RPA in Education is on raising the quality of education. This will be through the creation of a policy and administrative framework that fosters and supports schools as the main drivers of educational improvement, enabling them to achieve greater autonomy and assume enhanced responsibility for raising standards of teaching and learning. This will be complemented and enhanced by high quality youth work.
The Department of Education will be responsible for:
- establishing the strategic direction for education,
- setting policy, priorities and standards for schools and youth services,
- allocating and monitoring resources; and
- ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of services by the new ESA.
ESA and Schools
This key relationship is at the core of RPA reforms in education.
ESA will not control or manage schools directly. Instead, its role will be to support schools, and to hold them to account for their performance.
ESA, within policy guidelines, procedures and targets set by DE, will be responsible for:
- funding and providing (or procuring) support services for all grant-aided schools;
- ensuring the raising of standards in schools (with a statutory duty to do so);
- developing a scheme or schemes of management setting out the functions and duties of Boards of Governors and the accountability arrangements;
- holding schools to account for the discharge of their functions, and challenging them where necessary;
- providing advice to DE on curriculum and assessment, development and delivery of qualifications;
- acting as the employing authority for teaching and other staff in grant-aided schools; and
- strategic planning and procurement of the schools’ estate.
ESA and the Planning and Procurement of the Schools Estate
The Department of Education will set the overall policy framework for the strategic planning and procurement of schools. At the core of this will be area planning, the recommendations of the Bain Review and the sustainable schools policy.
ESA will have substantial additional responsibilities for overall strategic planning and procurement of the schools' estate. It will aim for a more coherent approach to school development through area planning of provision, covering all sectors and seeking to maximise quality and sustainability across all types of schools on an equitable basis. In assessing proposals for school development, ESA will have particular regard to the contribution that such proposals will make to the objectives in the publication A Shared Future.
ESA will also take on responsibility for new arrangements for more efficient and effective procurement of the schools estate, including the proposed new Education Infrastructure Procurement Service.
ESA and Community Planning
Proposals for community planning are still at the early stage of development. The aim will be to make sure that people and communities are genuinely engaged in decisions made about the public services that affect them. It is about:
- promoting joined-up working between organisations in order to develop a shared strategic vision for a geographical area,
- providing greater opportunities for community participation; and
- and encouraging more integrated service delivery across organisational boundaries. Education must make a positive contribution to the community planning process and ESA will be one of the core partners.
ESA Accountability Arrangements
The Board of ESA will be accountable, through the Department, to the Minister. The Minister will be accountable to the Assembly for the effective and efficient delivery of services to support the education system and the achievement of the Government’s education objectives. As at present, the Permanent Secretary will be the Principal Accounting Officer responsible for ensuring propriety and regularity of use of resources devoted to education services, as well as value for money. The Chief Executive of ESA will be the Accounting Officer on detailed operations.
ESA Governance
The Board of ESA will have a significant role to play in providing leadership, vision and direction for the organisation, in the context of Ministerial priorities and available resources, and in overseeing the delivery of planned results. The Board will be accountable to its main funding departments (DE and DEL) and their respective Ministers for the performance of ESA.
The Board will consist of around 8-12 members, all appointed by the Minister on merit for the skills and experience they bring. The chair of ESA will be directly appointed by the Minister and not elected from within the board. The term of office of members will be 3 or 4 years (the different terms allowing for continuity of membership) with 10 years being the maximum term allowed. Additionally, the chair and members will be remunerated in line with the normal arrangements in other public bodies and their performance will be assessed annually.