News

Emma Hylands, Principal of Clare Primary School, Tandragee, has been named as this year's recipient of the CSSC Excellence in Educational Research Award, presented by Education Minister Paul Givan MLA at Parliament Buildings, Stormont.

Controlled school leaders from across Northern Ireland were joined by the Education Minister at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, for a celebration of evidence-informed school improvement in the controlled sector.

The Controlled Schools' Support Council's Building Capacity Programme has, since 2019, supported school leaders to drive sustained improvement, rooted in research, tested in classrooms, and focused on what matters most: outcomes for children and young people.

The Controlled Schools' Support Council (CSSC), in partnership with the Confucius Institute NI Ulster University, supported controlled school leaders to drive whole-school improvement through its Building Capacity programme.

The programme included an international study visit where participants observed evidence-informed practices from high-performing education systems, helping leaders strengthen teaching, learning and collaboration in their schools.

The Education Authority's new Controlled Schools' Unit (CSU) was formally launched at an event held at Belfast Boys' Model School. Education Minister Paul Givan joined school leaders and partner organisations to mark the occasion, which represents the first phase of recommendations from the Controlled Schools Taskforce. The CSU will provide dedicated support to controlled schools, the largest and most diverse sector in Northern Ireland, serving around 150,000 children and young people. More than 250 school leaders and partners helped shape the Unit's priorities.

Dunclug Primary School, a controlled school located in Ballymena has been awarded the British Council's International School Award for its exceptional work bringing global perspectives into the classroom.

The Chief Executives of the bodies that manage, support and provide services to Northern Ireland's schools have today published a statement expressing profound concerns about the financial crisis facing the education system.

The Controlled Schools’ Support Council (CSSC) warmly welcomes the Minister of Education’s announcement of his intention to establish a new statutory organisation to provide dedicated support to controlled schools across Northern Ireland. 

The Education Minister established the Ministerial Taskforce in September 2025, comprising representatives from the Department of Education, the Education Authority and the Controlled Schools' Support Council.

The Taskforce led in the development of a proposed model for support for controlled schools.

Banbridge Academy has been ranked 64th in the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, placing it among the highest-performing secondary schools in the UK.

A special Christmas message from Fivemiletown College 'From our home to yours...' 

A controlled school at the heart of their local community.