AQW 29370/22-27


Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford


Tabled Date: 26/06/2025
Answered On Date: 30/06/2025
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of children with a statement of Special Educational Needs that will be enrolling in Primary 7 at the start of the new academic year 2025-26, broken down by council area.


Answer:
The Department does not yet have access to information regarding the Special Education Needs of pupils who will be enrolling in Primary Year 7 in September 2025. This data will be collated as part of the 2025 school census data collection on 10 October 2025.
School Census information in the table below shows the number of pupils enrolled in Year 6 in primary schools as of census day 2024 broken down by Local Government District (school location). While pupils will continue to undergo the statementing process throughout the year, the available information may be used as an indicative estimate of the upcoming Year 7 cohort. This information relates to census day, 11 October 2024.
Local Government District
Number of pupils in P6 with a statement of SEN (Census Day October 2024)
Antrim and Newtownabbey
115
Ards and North Down
131
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
153
Belfast
379
Causeway Coast and Glens
114
Derry City and Strabane
159
Fermanagh and Omagh
118
Lisburn and Castlereagh
123
Mid and East Antrim
92
Mid Ulster
148
Newry, Mourne and Down
204
Total
1,736
Source: NI school census
Notes:
1. Data is based on pupils enrolled on Census Day i.e. The Friday of the first full week in October (In 2024/25 this was the 11 October 2024)
2. Figures are based on school location (LGD 2014)
3. Figures include pupils enrolled in primary schools only.