The department plans to introduce legislation that would make it a legal offence to obstruct or refuse participation in an inspection.

Currently, full inspections of schools take place approximately every seven years, although follow-up visits may occur if concerns are raised. These inspections involve classroom observations, feedback from students and parents, and reviews of school policies, particularly around safeguarding. The findings are then made publicly available.

Education Minister Paul Givan said inspections play a vital role in identifying schools that need support to improve. “Without inspections, many schools may not have been identified to receive the support they need,” he stated.

To ensure full cooperation, Givan is proposing a standalone bill to create what he called an “absolute requirement” for teachers and staff to participate in inspections, removing any ambiguity in the current legislation.

This move follows years of industrial action by teachers, including boycotts of inspections amid pay disputes. In March, a panel of experts appointed by Givan recommended legal reform to enforce inspection cooperation as part of a broader review of Northern Ireland’s education system.

The Department of Education has now launched a consultation on the proposed legal changes, inviting feedback from stakeholders before moving forward with the bill.

The proposed legislation aims to ensure that all schools are properly evaluated, enabling targeted support and improvements within the education system.