Culmore PS Art Session

History

The Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 allowed for the creation of a support body for controlled schools, which has the potential to play a key role in the further development of the largest sector, comprising 49%, of schools in Northern Ireland.

The controlled education sector of today  is the largest, most diverse education sector in Northern Ireland comprising 49% of all schools across all phases: nursery, special, primary, secondary, grammar, integrated and Irish medium schools. Read more about controlled schools success here.

The origins of the controlled sector began in the early 20th century, when schools were transferred to the state.  From these beginnings of a historic faith context and a commitment to free public education, today's controlled schools provide for a more pluralist society through a diversity of schools with individual characteristics, but with Christian core values and principles.

The modern controlled sector is therefore a large, diverse and distinctive education system which is:

  • diverse in provision and governance
  • inclusive in making provision for children and young people from all backgrounds
  • aspirational in seeking to provide the best possible education.

Further information can be found under CSSC publications.

Controlled schools are managed by the Education Authority through Boards of Governors.