#2026/106Northern Ireland School Development Plan Regulations 2026
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Grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland must prepare or revise school development plans under updated rules from 1 August 2026. The plan must set out the school’s vision, local context, evidence base, three-year improvement priorities, and annual actions for delivery. Boards of Governors must monitor progress each school year, update the annual action plan every year, and review the wider plan at least every three years. Schools must publish the plan on their website each year and provide it to the Education Authority if requested.
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Key Changes
- Replaces the 2010 school development plan regulations for plans prepared or revised from 1 August 2026
- Requires each plan to include the school vision, context, evidence base, three-year improvement priorities, and annual delivery actions
- Requires annual website publication, yearly monitoring, yearly updates to actions, and a full plan review at least every three years
Obligations
What this law requires
Boards of Governors of grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland must prepare or revise school development plans in accordance with the 2026 Regulations for plans prepared or revised on or after 1 August 2026.
Each school development plan must include a concise statement of the school’s vision and ethos.
Each school development plan must describe the school’s context, including the circumstances, conditions, characteristics of the operating environment, and any material opportunities or challenges arising from them.
Each school development plan must identify the evaluation and evidence that informed the plan.
Each school development plan must set out the school’s high-level areas of focus for improvement over the next three years, based on the evaluation and evidence and aligned with any Department directives.