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Findings
The statistics are clearly labelled as official statistics in development. However, since they were first published in 2021, DE has made only minimal improvements to the statistics, and there is limited evidence of users being involved in planned development. This is not in line with our guidance, which states that users are central to testing official statistics in development.
The new MIS should help address existing limitations, such as manual handling of pupil transfers and duplicate records, while enabling real-time and more-accurate recording of suspensions and expulsions across Northern Ireland. The new system demonstrates DE’s commitment to reliable and accurate data collection and reducing the burden of data provision on schools.
DE has published clear and transparent quality and methods information, including detailed descriptions of data collection processes, and the extensive quality assurance and validation arrangements applied by the Education Authority (responsible for delivering education services across Northern Ireland) and DE. While there are a range of benefits of migrating to the new MIS, there are also potential systemic risks to data quality. DE has not yet published information about the planned migration or its potential implications for the statistics, although the Education Authority has provided a public update.
DE maintains positive relationships with key users of the statistics, including internal policy officials and the Education Authority and has responded to feedback from these users to improve the insight provided by the statistics. However, DE has limited engagement with users outside the department.
DE is committed to improving the accessibility of the statistics through its plans to introduce an HTML version of the bulletin.
DE has published almost all the organisational policy documents and statements required by the Code’s Standards for Official Statistics. It is still to publish an annual statistical work programme, which would further demonstrate transparency by providing users with clearer information about its plans for producing and developing statistics.