AQW 1280/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 10/06/2022
Answered On Date: 27/06/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the uptake of the Period Dignity scheme within schools.

Answer:

School engagement with the “Piot Scheme to Address Period Dignity in Schools” was significant in 2021/22. Eighty three percent of the budget was utilised. 70% of grammar schools, 82% of secondary schools and 89% of special schools placed orders by the end of March 2022. All primary schools either placed orders or received a stock allocation.

The scheme has been welcomed by 98.2% of pupils (1,680) and 98.8% (760) of teachers responding to CCEA’s baseline survey in June 2020. A follow up survey in January 2022 also received high response levels (1,722 pupils and 391 teachers), demonstrating a high level of engagement with addressing the issue of period dignity in schools.

In March 2022, the Department of Finance Supply Team approved expenditure for the pilot scheme to continue until June 2024. Based on the evidence gathered in the early stages of the scheme, DoF Supply was content that the need for the intervention had been demonstrated. Total budget for 2022/23 is £643k.

CCEA’s activity in 2022/23 will include: building its database of Period Dignity Champions; further Teacher Professional Learning opportunities; revising guidance to include Northern Ireland based case studies of best practice in implementing the scheme; developing educational resources for primary, post-primary and special schools; and promotional activity, including social media, videos and posters. CCEA will also issue an annual teacher and pupil questionnaire towards the end of the financial year.