The proposals come after a review of the handling of school closures during Storm Amy
A new opt-in messaging alert service for school principals and a text alert service for parents are just some of the proposals to be introduced by the Department of Education following a review into the handling of school closures during Storm Amy.
The Minister initiated the review of communications with schools after some principals raised concerns that they were only told of the need to close their schools after pupils were already in the building during last month’s storm.
The review was conducted by Department of Education officials with support from the Education Authority.
Some of the key recommendations from the report, which are to be implemented, include a process for the Education Authority to provide early alerts to the Department when school closures are being considered, including notification to senior Departmental officials and provision of Met Office forecasts with risk analysis.
The review also recommends the “timely communication” of closure decisions to schools and early alerts where possible, alongside the establishment of an opt-in group messaging service for school principals and providing pre-written text messages for parents in the event of closures.
In a written statement to MLAs, Education Minister Paul Givan said: “Following Storm Amy on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 October, I commissioned a review of the processes regarding the emergency school closures across Counties Antrim, Londonderry, Fermanagh and Tyrone.
“The review has now been completed, and the Report has been published on the Department’s website. It was carried out by Department of Education Officials with the support of the Education Authority. While the decision to close schools was made in the interest of public safety, concerns were raised regarding the decision-making process, the timing and communication of the announcement and the proportionality of the closures.
“This review sought to assess the rationale, process, and impact of the decision. Desktop research of evidence was carried out, including timelines from both the Department and the Education Authority, media and social media coverage, AQWs, minutes of emergency planning meetings, including the Local Impact Assessment Calls, evidence supplied by the Department, the Education Authority and the Executive Office and one-to-one interviews with 18 school leaders in affected counties.
“The report highlighted a number of significant concerns which arose from the chronology of events, including a lack of early Departmental involvement and representation; communication failures; timing and impact on schools; legal and procedural ambiguity; geographic confusion; and governance and authority concerns.
“It is clear from feedback from schools that those affected understood the need for schools to close on health and safety grounds. School leaders welcomed the ‘blanket’ approach to school closures, removing the need for local decision-making. An Education Civil Contingencies Protocol is currently under development and will be expedited for completion by 31 December 2025. The Protocol will clearly define roles and responsibilities for the Department and the Education Authority, outline required processes and approvals and clarify the legal position. It will also establish a communications framework.”
Responding to the Minister’s statement, UUP Education Spokesperson Jon Burrows said: “It became clear that critical communication between the Education Authority (EA) and school principals relied heavily on email, which led to delays between decisions being made and effectively communicated.
“As Ulster Unionist Education Spokesperson, I called for the introduction of a mobile alert system to ensure the EA can contact schools instantly during emergencies or other time-critical situations.
“I welcome the announcement from the Minister that the Education Authority will now establish an opt-in group messaging service for school principals. In addition, parents will receive text alerts in the event of school closures.
“This is a practical and positive step that demonstrates the value of proper scrutiny. The sooner parents have accurate information, the sooner they can make alternative arrangements.”
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