Scope Articles

Stormont can stretch the bounds of process and at least do something

Roll up, roll up! (Photo by Becky Phan on Unsplash)

1 Jun 2022

Is Stormont about to get weird? Maybe. Is weird better than silent? Yes.

Citizenship education: what's gone wrong

18 May 2022

What sort of young people do we want emerging from our schools?

Youth organisations have a big role in improving child mental health

7 Apr 2022

The wellbeing of Northern Ireland’s children and young people remains a concern. Local youth groups could do with better financial support – and help building systems where they can collaborate.

Children with additional needs struggle to find a place to play

17 Mar 2022

All children should be able to use play parks. However, new research shows that many children with additional needs still struggle to find places that allow them to pursue this fundamental part of childhood.

Can children make their parents care about climate change?

22 Feb 2022

A survey of NI parents found, for the first time, that climate change is an emerging worry. This could change attitudes across all of society – and lead to action.

Should we expect our politicians to be smarter?

Heads or tails? (Photo by Steve Smith on Unsplash)

15 Feb 2022

Elected representatives are tasked with huge decisions affecting all our lives. Public policy is awash with numbers - but a lot of politicians struggle with basic maths.

Northern Ireland’s education system lets deaf children fall behind

A newborn baby hearing test (photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash)

3 Feb 2022

Deaf children should perform just as well as their peers. Right now, this isn’t happening. Better support would allow children to thrive.

Why early education is an investment, not a cost

21 Jan 2022

When the Fair Start report into educational disadvantage was published last year it was widely praised. The then education minister Peter Weir described it as: "One of the most important reports I have overseen in my time".

We all have a part to play in reducing violence against women

18 Jan 2022

Northern Ireland is the most dangerous place in Europe to be a woman. That has to change. Everyone – including all men – has a role in creating a safer society.

What would happen if we abandoned academic selection?

16 Dec 2021

A new UU report looks at education north and south of the border. In any such comparison, it’s hard not to focus on the transfer tests.

Stormont opts out of collating schools’ records of bullying

8 Dec 2021

Data is crucial to policy, but NI’s government has chosen not to collect and compare information on bullying recorded by schools. This might be for the best.

Schools should look forwards, not back

Lagan College at 40: (l-r) Principal Amanda McNamee, head boy Jude Hinds, head girl Rosa Day, Education Minister Michelle McIlveen, former pupils Richard Sherry and Clare Bailey MLA

1 Dec 2021

These days, Northern Ireland’s schools system is arguably more segregated than the society it serves. This has to change.

It’s not to late to fix childcare in Northern Ireland

Employers for Childcare's Aoife Hamilton with the findings from this year's NI Childcare Survey

24 Nov 2021

The local childcare system fails both parents and providers, with financial pressures approaching breaking point. These failures also hurt the economy. However, there is still time to build something better.

Stormont could cut child poverty by a third

Children should have food, warmth and good clothes - and this should be uncontroversial (Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash)

17 Nov 2021

A new report about the direction of child poverty in Northern Ireland shows the difference that can be made by a robust social security system.

The Unlikely History of Integrated Schools in Northern Ireland

3 Nov 2021

This week marks the 190th anniversary of the first attempt to introduce integrated education in Northern Ireland. Colm Cavanagh charts a sorry history.

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Stormont can stretch the bounds of process and at least do something

Citizenship education: what's gone wrong

Youth organisations have a big role in improving child mental health

Children with additional needs struggle to find a place to play

Can children make their parents care about climate change?

Should we expect our politicians to be smarter?

Northern Ireland’s education system lets deaf children fall behind

Why early education is an investment, not a cost

We all have a part to play in reducing violence against women

What would happen if we abandoned academic selection?

Stormont opts out of collating schools’ records of bullying

Schools should look forwards, not back

It’s not to late to fix childcare in Northern Ireland

Stormont could cut child poverty by a third

The Unlikely History of Integrated Schools in Northern Ireland

Filter by a topic of your interest

Stormont can stretch the bounds of process and at least do *something*

Citizenship education: what's gone wrong

Youth organisations have a big role in improving child mental health

Children with additional needs struggle to find a place to play

Can children make their parents care about climate change?

Should we expect our politicians to be smarter?

Northern Ireland’s education system lets deaf children fall behind

Why early education is an investment, not a cost

We all have a part to play in reducing violence against women

What would happen if we abandoned academic selection?

Stormont opts out of collating schools’ records of bullying

Schools should look forwards, not back

It’s not to late to fix childcare in Northern Ireland

Stormont could cut child poverty by a third

The Unlikely History of Integrated Schools in Northern Ireland

Stormont can stretch the bounds of process and at least do something