AQW 19054/11-15

Mr Chris Lyttle
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 29/01/2013
Answered On Date: 11/02/2013
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the three year Queen's University Belfast research programme which examines the causes and differences in educational underachievement.

Answer:

This project entitled ‘Understanding differential educational achievement within and between areas of multiple deprivation in NI – a case study approach’ is being carried out by Professor Ruth Leitch, Professor Joanne Hughes, supported by Dr Ian Shuttleworth and Dr Michael Levers.

The project commenced in March 2012 and is currently on schedule and within budget.

The project has, to date, submitted one progress report and the second progress report is due in March 2013. To date (as per the first interim report) the research has conducted the following:

Literature review to set the context for the research

Quantitative analysis (secondary) to establish historical trends

Development and design of baseline information in the target electoral wards.

Establishment of key contacts and relationship building in each of the target wards

Developed a data collection strategy and action plan for the next phase of research – (Nov/Dec 2012 – September 2013).

The findings are not scheduled to be published until the final project report which is due to be received in March 2015.