AQW 38984/22-27

Mr Andrew McMurray
Alliance Party
South Down

Tabled Date: 23/01/2026
Answered On Date: 05/02/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any support he can provide to Ardmore Special School, given the school's increase in numbers.

Answer:

The Education Authority (EA) has advised that:

The support team within the Special Schools’ Service has developed strong links with Ardmore school via a Designated Support Officer. This continued support relates to issues such as accommodation, resourcing, training and specific pupil provision. The support officer works closely with colleagues in the Education Authority’s Education Directorate to provide ongoing support to Ardmore’s senior management team.

The Special Schools’ Service has and will continue to support Ardmore House School to ensure that it has an adequate staffing and management complement that meets the needs of a growing school. For the current academic year, the EA has funded an additional 3.4 teachers, 2 classroom assistants and a new Social Behaviour and Emotional Well Being Intervention Officer. Furthermore, the school’s management structure has been bolstered with additional non-teaching vice principal allocation and 3 additional management allowances. The school has a designated budgetary support officer who offers continuous support and training to the principal on the various financial reporting responsibilities.