AQW 27310/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 19/05/2025
Answered On Date: 23/05/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail what consideration has been given to the aligning of school finishing times across all primary school year groups.

Answer:

Schools have the autonomy and flexibility to set their own start and finish times. In determining these times, all schools must take account of the statutory requirements on the minimum number of hours that pupils must be under instruction each day. This differs for children aged below and above the age of eight.

The school’s individual context may influence finishing times such as the need to take account of the availability of transport or traffic congestion.