School Development Planning

Background

The school development plan has become a common and accepted way of setting out a school's curricular and other intentions.  The Education (School Development Plans) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 PDF 14.6 KB  apply to all school development plans prepared after 1 September 2005.

Guidance

The School Development Planning Guidance PDF 580 KB booklet has been prepared for schools to assist them in identifying and building on their strengths and identifying areas for improvement so that these can be addressed.  In doing so, it offers an effective way to harness the collective experience of the teachers, to promote teamwork, and to plan for and implement change for improvement.

Further Information

Circular 2005/19 School Development Regulations and Guidance PDF 52 KB sets out the requirements for the Boards of Governors of grant-aided schools to prepare and from time to time revise a school development plan in accordance with the regulations.

Related Documents

Circular 2008/02 – School Development Days 2008/09 and 2009/10 PDF 65KB sets out the arrangements for schools to take up to five School Development Days in the 2008/09 and 2009/10 school year to provide additional non-contact time to devote to School Development matters.

Circular 2007/05-School Development Days 2007/08 PDF 105 KB sets out the arrangements for schools to take up to five School Development Days in the 2007/08 school year to provide additional non-contact time to devote to School Development matters.

Target Setting: Guidance for Primary Schools PDF 998KB The purpose of this booklet is to help schools set and achieve their own targets for improvement and so contribute to the achievement of the overall targets.

Target Setting: Guidance for Post-Primary Schools PDF 1.04 MB provides guidance to primary schools on the role target-setting can play in raising standards within the context of effective development planning.  It also provides examples from schools in Northern Ireland of ongoing work in target-setting and development planning.