Teachers could be fined for not taking part in school inspections

Teachers could be fined up to £2,500 for not taking part in school inspections, according to new plans published by the Department of Education.

The department has proposed changing the law to make it an offence to obstruct an inspection.

Main school inspections normally take place every seven years, but can lead to further follow up inspections.

In a statement the Education Minister Paul Givan said without inspections “many schools may not have been identified to receive the support they need to improve.”

“That is why I am proposing to bring forward a standalone bill to remove any ambiguity from our current legislation and create an absolute requirement to co-operate with inspection,” he said.

Inspectors examine how a school is performing, including observing lessons, seeking feedback from pupils and parents and monitoring school policies on things like safeguarding.

The results of inspections for each school are then published.

But as part of industrial action short of strike during pay disputes in recent years, teachers have boycotted inspections.

In March, an expert panel appointed by Givan recommended new laws to require teachers to co-operate with inspections as part of a wider review of Northern Ireland’s education system.

The department is now consulting on the proposed law change.