Registered number: N1022427 Charity registered number: 100310 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (a company limited by guarantee) Directors. report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 Laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly Under the requirements of the Department of EducationlNICIE Management statement and Financial Memorandum. On 22 June 2024 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) Directors, Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 Contents Pages Reference and administrative details Directors, report 4-20 Annual report 21 Chief Executive Officerfs report 22-24 Annual Governance Statement 25-44 Remuneration and Staff report 45-51 Assembly Accountability and Audit Report 52 Independent auditors. report 53-57 Statement of financial activities (including income and expenditure account) 58 Statement of financial position 59 Statement of cash flows 60 Reconciliation of net outgoing reserrfes to net cash inflowl (oufflow) from Continuing operating activities 61 Notes to the financial statements 62-76 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) Reference and administrative details Directorsrrrustees Adele Kerr Anne Murray Ashleigh Moran Barry Corrigan (Appointed November 2023, Resigned December 2023) Bill Fletcher (Resigned June 2024) Bill Miscampbell Bob Hanna {Resigned February 2024) Cathal Mullaghan Colin Millar Dr Anne Marie Telford (Resigned February 2024) Duncan Morrow Eamon Quinn (Vice Chair) Gavin Gray Helen Smyth (Secretary) John Scott Maeve Marnell (Chair) Nigel Arnold (Appointed March 2024) Patricia Douglas (Resigned May 2024) Sandra Patterson Shane Greer Pamela Algie (Appointed June 2024) Senior management members Roisin Marshall (Chief Executive Officer) Maureen Johnston (Finance Offi￿r) Cliodhna Scott Wills (Senior Development Officer) Lorna McAlpine (Senior Development Officer) Lynn Johnston (Senior Development Officer) Appointed July 2023 Emma Hume (Senior Development Officer) Appointed September 2023 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) Reference and administrative details (continued) Registered and Principal office James House 2-4 Cromac Avenue Belfast BT7 2JB Solicitors Cleaver Fulton Rankin 50 Bedford Street Belfast, BT2 7FW Bankers First Trust Bank 33- 35 University Road Belfast BT7 1ND Independent auditors SCC Chartered Accountants 17 College Street Armagh BT619BT You may reuse this information (including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, please visit htt :l/www.nationalarchives. ov.ukldoc/o en- overnment-licence or email nationalarchives. ov.uk. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concemed. This Document is also available on our website at htt :IlvMw.nicie.or Any Enquiries regarding this document should be sent to NICIE, James House, 2-4 Cromac Avenue, Belfast, BT7 2JB. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 The directors. who are also trustees. present their annual report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. The financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practice, affordable to charities preparing their accounts. This is in accordance with the International Financial Reports standards and in accordance with the requirements and guidelines set out in the Government's Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) and other guidan issued by the Department of Finance (DOF) in force for the financial year for which the financial statements are being presented. The accounting policies contained in the FReM apply International Financial Reporting Standard as adopted or interpreted for the public sector context. Reference and administrative details Details of the registered office, directors. independent advisers, and other relevant information are given on page 2 and 3. Structure, Governance and Management Governing document The Northem Ireland Council for Integrated Education ("NICIE") was incorporated in 1989 as a company limited by guarantee and is exempt from tax under Section 505(1) (c) of the Income and Corporation Act 1988 as a body established for charitable purposes only. NICIE was designated as a Non-Departmental Public Body ("NDPB") in February 2012. It is sponsored by the Department of Education ("DE"). The companvs principal activity as defined in the Education Reform (Nl) Order 1989 is 'to encourage and facilitate the development of Integrated Education and schools for the public benefit" Directors All directors are members of NICIE. All directors are guarantors of the company with a maximum liability of £10. Appointment of directors NICIE directors are electedlappointed from six areas representative of all stakeholders. These comprise, involved in the provision of teaching, Principals, Schools, Trusts, Early Years and DE. Directors can serve two periods of be￿een 24 years, subject to the temis of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Director induction and training The Company Secretary ensures that appropriate induction and training is given to all NICIE Board of Director ('BoD") members. Each new director is provided with an information pack about NICIE and their responsibilities and is given an opportunity to meet all staff. Detsils of the BoD structure is illustrated on page 31 of the NICIE Governance statement. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) Organisation The Board of Directors ("BoD") in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association of NICIE and the Management Statement (incorporating the financial memorandum) carries on the governance, management and conduct of the business and affairs of NICIE. The Chief Executive OffI￿r ("CEO") is Roisin Marshall. Funding NICIE works in close collaboration with its principal funder DE. It is also supported by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade {DFA) and The Northem Ireland Office to promote the work of the organisation. Risk management and internal control The directors are responsible for ensuring that an effective system of internal financial control is maintained and operated by NICIE. The system of internal financial control is based on a framework of regular management information, administrative procedures and a system of delegation and accountability. It includes- A comprehensive budgeting system, with a strategic plan and an annual budget, which is reviewed and agreed by the directors. Regular reviews by the directors of monthly and annual financial reports, which indicate financial performance against approved budget and forecast; and Monitoring progress against the strategic plan. As part of the monitoring process. the directors have implemented a risk management strategy. which comprises" A quarterly review of the risks which NICIE may face. and actions taken to mitigate identified risks., The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified. and The implementation of prO￿dureS designed to minimise any potential impact on the organisation should any of those risks materialise. Significant risks identified are in relation to the following areas: NICIE fails to deliver a balan￿d Resour￿ and Capital Budget as a result of ineffective management of reSoUr￿S to ensure the delivery of the Department of Education's Strategic Priorities and NICIE'S statutory duties and priorities within budget. Weakness and Ineffective govemance & accountability arrangements. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) Failure to exercise proper stewardship. and maximise the resources allocated to NICIE in line with Financial Memorandum and grant conditions where applicable. within a proper financial control framework under Non-Departmental Public Body. (NDPB) status. Failure to support, promote and grow Integrated Education due to inability to assess parental demand for integrated education. A key element in the management of financial risk is the setting up of a reserves policy and its regular review by directors. Particular attention is also focused on non-financial risks arising from fires and the health and safety of all staff and visitors. Objectives and activities of NICIE During the year, NICIE continued to operate in the following Programme areas: 1. Development and support servI￿s, for which core funding was made available through DE. The key objectives for this Programme underpinned DE'S Strategic Priorities and policies and included promoting the growth of Integrated provision through supporting parents, groups, supporting schools in the process of 'Transfomation,' or interested in 'Transforming' and supporting existing Integrated schools regarding consolidation and expansion and in embedding 'lntegration in practice., NICIE worked with Integrated schools and other stakeholders in the process of Area planning. NICIE raised the level of debate about the role of Integrated Education by informing and influencing public opinion. NICIE promoted the characteristics of Integration in practice both in Integrated schools and across other schools. NICIE continues to strive to improve its internal capacity to be able to fulfil its Business Plan as agreed with DE. 2. The initiation and development of related work funded through the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA). 3. The implementation of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) Grant to foster increased awareness and support for integrated education in Northern Ireland and encourage wider societal reconciliation between communities in the educational system Achievements and perforniance The statement of financial activities for NICIE. All programmes are drawn up in accordance with best practice and link to the Strategic Aims of NICIE and are aligned to the business plan of DE. All programmes have detailed operational plans to achieve the outcomes identified in the Strategic and Business Plans and are monitored on a regular basis by the Board, Senior Management Team, and the external funding bodies. Details of NICIE'S activities during the year can be accessed online at www.nicie.org or by contacting NICIE at the registered address. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) Financial Review The full financial results of NICIE are set out in detail in the financial statements on pages 57 to 58. The net outgoing resources for the year before recognised gains and losses was £26,764 (2023: £5,770) Performance NICIE bases its operations strategically on a 3-year strategic plan and on an annual basis on a Business Plan, which is reported on a quarterly basis to the Board of Directors and DE. The Business Plan is set within the context of DE'S business plan, and additionally, it includes related projects, which are funded by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA) and Northern Ireland Offi￿ (NIO). NICIE reports on its operations in its Annual Report. NICIE has delivered on all its Business Plan commitments in this current year. Reserves NICIE receives grants from various sources that are spent on the activities as detailed in the respective Letters of Offer. Any unspent monies may be subject to claw-back by the grant provider. The net liabilities at the year-end including the pension surplus is £141,534 (2023: £161.298). This includes a net pension liability of nil. (2023: £NIL). The company's funding for the year ended March 2024 has been confirmed from the DE. The company is in a net current asset position with funding secured sufficient to meet liabilities as they fall due in the period of 12 months from approval of the financial statements. For further details of the pension commitment liability, please refer to note 12 of the financial statements (page 69) and the Remuneration report on pages 44-50. Forward funding NICIE has secured sufficient income from a variety of sources for the year 2024 - 2025 to offer assurance to the directors and stakeholders of its ability to operate for the next financial year. Major funding has been guaranteed from DE. with other project funds being made available from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and a grant from the Northem Ireland Office through the Education and Skills Funding Agency. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) Strategic priorities, objectives, and activity Our Vision A society where children are educated together. confident to express their own identity and culture. respectful of, and prepared to engage with, the identity and culture of others. Our Mission To promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland through Integrated Education Strategic Priorities 2022-2025 Promote Integrated Education Promote Integrated Education to create measurable change in awareness and understanding, leading to an increase in demand for Integrated schools. Grow Integrated Education Support the growth and development of Integrated Education to be an accessible option in all geographical areas in Northern Ireland Support Integrated Education Support the development of the Integrated Ethos to help governors and leaders to advance sustainable and exemplary Integrated and Transfonning schools. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) Introduction This year has been an eX￿ptIOnal year for the Integrated Education movement in Northern Ireland: the environment in which NICIE is operating has changed. The implications of Integrated Education Act (Nl) 2022 are beginning to be analysed, interpreted. and felt by stakeholders across the complex educational landscape of Northern Ireland and this is bringing Unpre￿dented opportunities for the growth of Integrated Education. Whilst we are delighted with these seismic shifts, it brings significant challenges for our small staff team. In March 2024, we are a team of fourteen people (nine funded with Department of Education (DE) resource, four with resour￿ from the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and one funded with resource from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA).. NICIE Staff Team: March 2024 Chief Executive Officer: Roisin Marshall Finance Offi￿r. Maureen Johnston Senior Development offi￿rs. Lorna McAlpine, Cliodhna Scott-wills, Lynn Johnston, Emma Hume Development Officers: Laura Largey, Tiarnan Mcmeekin, Jessica Clarke, Mary Potter, Fiona Darrah. Office Manager.. Mark Roberts Executive Assistant: Carol Black Administration Officer: Michael Nicholl In this last year, two part-time stsff members left to spend more time with family and pursue other interests. Thank you, Alastair Rowan and Florence Mccaw for the valued contributions you made in your five years of service. The additional NIO funding enabled us to recruit four new Development Officers and restructure our Senior Management Team in relation to strategic communications and support for transforming schools. This report is structured into two sections. which work symbiotically to support, grow and promote Integrated Education. Firstly, it will summarise the operational school-focussed delivery activity of the NICIE Development team in the last year and secondly it will reflect on the collaborative, strategic and policy engagement work of the organisation. It will conclude by highlighting the key successes and reflecting on the challenges of the past year. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 10 Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) Section 1 Operational activity to support, grow and promote Integrated Education This section outlines the core operational activity of the NICIE Development Team. These activities work symbiotically to promote. grow and support Integrated Education. The impact of the global pandemic continues to alter how we deliver our services. Embracing a hybrid model has enabled more engagements with more people and more varied audiences in both virtual and in person spaces. The hybrid option, combined with the impact of the increasing public discussions in multiple arenas about the importance of educating children together. has had a profound impact on the demand for our expertise, knowledge, and services. In relation to our school-facing services, we continue to experience an increase in demand for all our services but this year the demand has been felt acutely from two sources: schools seeking to explore Transformation and existing Integrated schools seeking to develop their Integrated ethos. 1.1 Growing and promoting Integrated Education The number of young people educated in Integrated schools this academic year (23124) is 27,675, which represents an additional 492 since last year (22123). In the last 2.5 years. there have been seven new Integrated schools because of Transformation to Integrated status, with one of these taking place in the period of this report: Sion Mills Integrated Primary School in September 2023. Three schools, proposals were not approved (St. Anne's Primary School (PS), Donaghadee, Gillygooley PS. Omagh and Straid PS, Ballyclare). In the last 12 months, eight schools have completed ballots of their parental body, asking them whether they want their school to submit a proposal to become an Integrated school: Rathmore Primary School, Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College, Downshire Nursery School (NS), Ballyhenry PS, Culmore PS. Downshire PS and NU, Duneane PS and Killowen PS (Coleraine). We enjoy effective collaborative relationships with the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) and Education Authority (EA) partners in our work to support schools seeking to explore andlor start the Transformation joumey. We have supported nine schools (including three of those named above) to write and submit Development Proposals to Transfomi to Integrated status. In this year, the EA'S Area Planning Team have provided draft Cases for Change for Governors of sustainable schools, that are seeking to Transfonn. Our team's resources would not have been sufficient to deliver these submissions without this writing and data provision support. alongside that of the of the EA (Shared Education and Sectoral Support Team) and the IEF. The EA then manages a 4-week pre-publication of the proposal. prior to a full 2-month public consultation by the DE. before the proposal makes its way to the Ministerial desk for decision-making. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 11 Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) This collaborative activity and the additional funding SoUr￿S secured have enabled us to cope with the rising demand to support schools seeking to Transform. As Fig 1 below shows. our core grant from DE is declining. Fig 1 Graph showing data relating to Transformation of schools and DE core grant to NICIE since 2009 21WIfj ))TWM 241IM2 ))0IJ 20-.514 X1&1$ 201SY$ 1ty&17 I￿...4 X'.4'.9 4¥'.><¥ The sustainability of Integrated schools is a focus in all our activity. There are 15 schools that have passed a resolution to ballot and are yet to have a Ministerial decision, eleven of these are sustainable schools, in relation to enrolment numbers. Alongside growth of Integrated Education because of school Transformations, this year has seen the approval of two new school projects: Approval for the creation of a new Post-Primary Grant Maintained Integrated School in the mid-Down area and for a new Post-Primary Controlled Integrated School in the Causeway area. Both projects incorporate an existing Integrated school (Blackwater Integrated College (IC) and North Coast IC) and are intended to create two new sustainable Integrated Colleges. Three schools received approval to establish Nursery school places, which is an important aspect of Primary school sustainability: Rowandale Integrated Primary School (IPS}, Drumlins IPS and Enniskillen IPS. Strangford Ic's proposal to academically select 350/0 of pupils was approved. Including the approval of Sion Mills IPS'S Transformation (mentioned above), this represents seven growth projects for Integrated Education. In our work to support sustainability of existing Integrated schools, NICIE supported Bridge IPS to submit a development proposal in the last year and EA (as the schools. Managing Authority) submitted a proposal for Cliftonville IPS, both in relation to establishment of a Nursery Unit. Including the nine Transformation proposals mentioned above, this makes eleven proposals submitted to EA to Commen￿ the pre-publication prO￿sS in this financial year. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 12 Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) 1.2 Supporting and promoting development of the Integrated Ethos In 2023-24, three schools achieved renewal of their Excellence in Integrated Education Award (EIEA), including the first College to do so (Portadown IPS, Fort Hill IPS, New-Bridge IC), and three schools gained the Award for the first time (Camlough IPS, Mill Strand IPS and Loughview IPS). The schools work through a self-evaluation and development process, based on the EIEA audit tool. Achievement of the EIEA is through external assessment, based on an evidence portfolio and two visits by the assessors. Each school re￿iVeS an EIEA assessment report. including recommendations for further development of their Integrated ethoslpractice. Fig 2: Interest from existing Integrated schools in NICIE'S Excellence in Integrated Education Award. ExC￿len￿ in Inlegraleij E¢AKati￿AWard Data Of the 23 schools currently in their EIEA process, 15 are working towards the Award for the first time and 8 are working towards renewal (2 schools for the second time). Since the EIEA was established. 22 schools have achieved the Award at least once. Fig 2 below shows the increasing interest in the Award. We think that this is another impact of the 2022 Act, with existing Integrated schools seeking to reflect deeply on how their ethos contributes to the Act's description of the purpose and definition of Integrated Education. In the last year, we have facilitated at least 81 sessions, with over 1900 participants, promoting and developing awareness of Integrated Education and the Integrated ethos. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 13 Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) Fig 3: Delivery of NICIE sessions related to Integrated Ethos development NICIE Support Evonts and Total Participants for tha last 5 years NICIE surwt Eyems 10 2019J?O 2021 ?2 2022?3 2023 24 F￿a￿v￿ar I Marthl Fig 3 above shows the increasing demand for sessions focussed on the Integrated ethos. These sessions include: information andlor ethos development sessions to stakeholders in schools (parents, Governors and school staff at all levels) exploring andlor on the legal journey of school Transformation to Integrated status exploration of ethos andlor the EIEA andlor Anti-Bias in Education sessions to other audiences. international and local relating to Integrated Education. the Integrated ethos. Anti-Bias in Education and recent legislative developments Following the DE approval for the establishment of a new Controlled Integrated College in the Causeway area. NICIE has worked in collaboration with the EA and the Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC) in the setting up of a joint Ethos Support Group to work with the interim Board of Governors and the Principals of the existing schools (Coleraine College. Dunluce High School and North Coast Integrated College) to support the development of the Integrated ethos in the new school. Framework for Integrated Education: NICIE has continued to work with EA (Shared Education and Sectoral Support Team) to develop a Framework for Integrated Education. This is a self-evaluation tool which will support schools on their Integration joumey whether a newlTransforming Integrated school or a long- established Integrated school. This then connects to the EIEA through which schools can focus their ongoing self-evaluation and development and achieve the externally assessed recognition of excellence. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 14 Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) 1.3 Communities for learning and sharing within Integrated Education In the past year, we have facilitated five meetings of the NICIE Teachers. Committee, engaging 22 Integrated schools in the process. The Teachers. Committee lead on Integrated Education Month each year during March and in March 2024, the theme was 'Bias Busting,. Most Integrated schools engage in this annual campaign to ￿lebrate and promote Integrated Education. The Association of Principals in Integrated Schools (APTIS) has continued to be active this year with our support, hosting two conferences and two meetings. in which senior leaders from most Integrated schools participated. The Vice-Principals' Forum, the Early Years, Forum, the Integrated Schools Finance Association (ISFA), and the GMI consultative forum have also met this year. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 15 Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) Section 2 Strategic Collaboration and Policy Activity to support. grow and promote Integrated Education Our core collaborative funding partner is the DE, enabling us to employ four of the nine staff in our Development Team and the wrap-around supports of senior and administrative staff and office services. We regularly meet with our sponsor colleagues, the Irish Medium and Integrated Education branch within DE and we have complied with all financial and governance requirements in relation to our status as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), a Limited Company and a Charity. Appropriate Financial and Management Reports were produced for senior management team. Finan￿ and General Purposes Staffing Committee (FGPSC) and our Board of Directors throughout the year. An effective internal and extemal audit programme was delivered. Our full Board of Directors met on four occasions. with an additional eleven committee meetings. We also work collaboratively with the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA) Reconciliation Fund, delivering on key performan indicators and targets agreed with each of these bodies. Our DFA project is in partnership with the IEF, enabling us to employ a member of our Development Team. Our NIO project also runs in tandem with an IEF project and this has enabled us to employ the other four members of our Development Team. Without this collaboration, we would not have been able to provide the necessary ServI￿S to support the development of Integrated Education in Northern Ireland. Our NIO and DFA projects are completing in March 2025. Nineteen schools have moved to hold a parental ballot in the last three years, in comparison to ten in the previous ten years and new schools are coming forward to explore Transformation every month. The existing nine members of our Development Team are stretched to their limits meeting the current demand for our services. meaning that seeking additional resource is a priority. As an NDPB and a sectoral support body, we represent Integrated Education at a wide range of forums, one of which is Area Planning meetings. facilitated by the Education Authority (EA) on behalf DE. Area Planning governance structures comprise a strategic Area Planning Steering Group (APSG), an operational Area Planning Working Group (APWG) and three Area Planning Local Groups (APLGS). NICIE has been present at all meetings throughout the year. In addition, Officers attended meetings relating to Specialist Provision in mainstream Schools, as this area of educational planning works to effectively respond to increasing demand. Through these attendances, we have supported the Area Planning process and worked collaboratively with partners to create a draft Operational Plan for the period 2024 to 2027. The Independent Review of Education, published in De￿mber 2023, points in the direction of enabling more children to be educated together and has suggested some methods by which this might be progressed. We look forward to working through these challenges with our Area Planning partners in the years ahead. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 16 Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) The Department of Education launched A Strategy for Integrated Education in Northern Ireland and an associated Action Plan on 26th April 2023. The Integrated Education Act (Nl) 2022 requires DE to report to the Nl Assembly annually on the progress of the Strategy and Action Plan. The DE has created and facilitated an Integrated Education Act Implementation Steering Group and an Integrated Education Act Working group and NICIE has invested considerable resource in attending and engaging with these meetings and associated pro￿sses. The Act and the Action Plan places emphasis on NICIE'S role as a consultee and this has required us to respond to increasing requests from DE and EA in relation to a variety of workstreams, including the review of the DE guidance to schools in relation to the Transformation pro￿sS, 'Integration Works,. NICIE has continued, when possible, to contribute to the development of the educational system, andlor represent the interests of Integrated schools andlor Integrated Education in a range of other forums, including: The Education Sector Managing Attendance Forum, Teachers, Pension Scheme Advisory Board, Admissions and Expulsion Appeals Panels, EA-led Community in Schools working group. Local Management of Schools (LMS), Pre School- Education Group (PEG), EA Cross Directorate Group for Integrated Education, Performan Review and Staff Development (PRSD). End to End review of school improvement, End to end review of SEN, Sectoral CEO Forum. We actively participate on behalf of Grant Maintained Integrated (GMI) Schools in Management Side of the Teachers Negotiating Council, Oversight Group. Schools Leaders Workload. Pensions and Managing Attendance Groups and other ad hoc workstreams as required. We have continued to take legal advi￿ in relation to revision of GMI governance structures and a range of other issues associated with the Integrated Education Act (Nl) 2022. We are collaborating as a community partner with Queen's University School of Psychology and have suc￿SsfUllY obtained two funded PhD studentships planned to commence in September 2024. NICIE sits on four research steering groups in Partnership with the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) exploring issues about religious balance, barriers to school Transformation to Integrated status, social attitudes in relation to pupils in schools and RE and the Integrated Ethos. The latter is a jointly funded project with IEF and the Association of Principal Teachers in Integrated Schools (APTIS), which has appointed a researcher to produce guidance for Integrated primary schools about the teaching of Religious Education and related practice in the Integrated Education Primary school setting. We continue to be a partner in a project funded by the Standing Conference in Teacher Education North and South (SCOTENS). This research is examining how prepared Teacher and Student teachers are to teach controversial issues. We submitted responses during the public consultation period for seven potential new schools seeking to Transform to Integrated status and for two existing Integrated schools seeking to establish Nursery provision. In January 2024. we submitted a written response to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Inquiry into Integrated Education and our CEO provided oral evidence to the Committee on 28th February. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 17 Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) Summary and Conclusion This has been an exceptional year for NICIE and for the Integrated Education movement. This report has included the key achievements and outlined our current position. Alongside other public services in Northern Ireland, education. and Integrated Education, is experiencing the impact of chronic under-funding. Whilst we were delighted to celebrate Roe Valley IPS'S new school building this year. we were equally disappointed at the announcement in February 2024 that Fresh Stsrt funding that was allocated for shared and Integrated school building projects is no longer available. We were also concerned with the lack of resource commitment in the DE'S Integrated Education Strategy and associated Action Plan and the decreasing resour￿ allocation for NICIE. When one considers the inflationary impacts. our core grant from DE has decreased by almost 50 % since 2014115 We recognise that this is in the nature of public sector landscape in 2024 and we will continue to deliver services to the best of our ability with a passionate, talented and deeply committed staff team. We value our staff team and this year our team have invested time in a range of professional, personal and wellbeing development opportunities. Our team has invested in the deepening of our collaborative activity in the last few years and our productivity, reported above, is one indicator of our success in this regard. Using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation dats from the Office for National Statistics The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 18 Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) Fixed assets Details of the movement of fixed assets are set out in note 7 to the financial statements. Donations NICIE made no political donations during the year (2023: £nil) Tax status On 2 March 1989, NICIE was granted charitable status and is exempt from corporation tax on its activities. The activities of NICIE are exempt for value added tax purposes. NICIE therefore does not have to account for value added tax on its income nor is it able to recover the value added tax element of expenditure. Charitable status and public benefit The company is a registered charity with the Charities Commission in Northern Ireland under reference 100310. The directors have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charitys aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. Disabled employees NICIE gives full and fair consideration to applications for employment from disabled persons, having regard to their aptitude and abilities as well as Health and Safety factors. Equality of Opportunity NICIE follows the Northern Ireland Civil servi￿ Policy that all eligible persons shall have equal opportunity for employment and advan￿ment based on ability, qualification, and aptitude for work. Employee involvement It is the policy of NICIE to promote the understanding and involvement of all its employees in its aims and performance and it is committed to the continuing development of effective employee communication and consultation. Sickness Absence The sickness absen￿ rate for the year was 146 days 4.6% (2023: 24.5 days .89%). The Directors and Management work continuously to redu￿ this figure and this is reviewed at BOD meetings and FGPSC. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 19 Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) Prompt Payment NICIE is committed to the prompt payment of bills for goods and services received in accordance with NICIE Financial Memorandum, the Confederation of British Industry's Better Practice Prompt Payers Code. Unless otherwise stated in the contract. payment is due within 30 days of the receipt of the goods or services. or presentation of a valid invoice or similar demand. whichever is later. In 202312024 NICIE paid 100'/0 (20221203: 100%) of its creditors within 30 days and no commission debt interest was paid or was due in respect of transactions in 202312024. Statement of accounting officer and directors, responsibilities The directors (who are also trustees of The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education) are responsible for preparing the Directors, report and the financial statements in accordan with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law and Article 8(6) of the Financial Provisions (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 require the Chief Executive and directors to prepare financial ststements for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the situation and of the surplus or deficit of NICIE for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Chief Executive and directors are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent., state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements., and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that NICIE will continue in business. The Chief Executive (CEO) and directors are ￿spOnSible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position of NICIE and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of NICIE and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The CEO is responsible for the maintenance and integrity of NICIE'S website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. In addition, in appointing the Chief Executive of the NICIE as Accounting Officer for NICIE, the Department of Education has placed on the Chief Executive responsibilities including the regularity and propriety of the public fInan￿S and for the keeping of proper records. These are set out in the The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 20 Directors, report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) "Accounting Officers" Management Statement {incorporating the financial memorandum) issued by the Department of Finan￿. The Accounting Officer confirms that the annual report and accounts as a whole are fair, balanced. and understandable and that she takes personal responsibility for the annual report and accounts and the judgments required for determining that they are fair. balanced, and understandable. Statement of disclosure of inforniation to auditors So far as the Accounting OffI￿r and each of the Directors in office at the date of approval of these financial statements is aware: there is no relevant audit information of which NICIE'S auditors are unaware. and they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that NICIE'S auditors are aware of that information. Small companies, exemption In preparing this report. the directors have taken advantage of the small company's exemptions provided by the Companies Act 2006 {Strategic Report and Directors, Report) Regulations 2013. Independent auditors The auditors, SCC Chartered Accountants, have been appointed as Independent Auditors through a tender process. A resolution concerning their reappointment for next year will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting. By order of the Board Maeve Marnell Chair Date 2210612024 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 21 Annual Report from the Chairperson for the year ended 31 March 2024 As the financial year draws to a close. l am pleased that we finally have an Assembly up and running and hopeful that this will have a positive impact on our budget for the coming year. In 2023 our amazing staff rose above the challenges presented by our reduced budget and continued to work passionately and enthusiastically to meet our objectives of promoting, growing and supporting Integrated Education. Working with the principals, teachers, school staff, pupils and parents they demonstrated daily the positive societal impact that educating our children together can have. In addition to our staff. I continue to be humbled by the huge Sacrifi￿ that our tslented Board of Directors make to ensure good governance of the organisation and once again. with the expert support of our Finance Officer. Maureen Johnston, they have ensured that our budget has been managed efficiently and effectively. I was pleased to continue work with the Department of Education on the Implementation of the Integrated Education Act. Working together with our partners in the IEF, AlumNI, APTIS as well as the Education Authority, CSSC and other sectoral support bodies, I feel confident that a cohesive strategy will be developed and we will continue to support the department to fulfil its duty to assess and aim to meet the demand for Integrated Education. This year l am sad to say goodbye to our Senior Development offi￿r, Lorna McAlpine. Lorna has worked with NICIE for 27 years and the determination and tenacity she has demonstrated in the face of constant challenges and obstacles has been inspirational. She has had an enormous role in ensuring the development and growth of Integrated Education and we are so grateful for her immeasurable contribution. It is also with great sadness that I say goodbye to our CEO. Roisin Marshall OBE. Roisin has led the organisation for 8.5 years with vision. positivity and unwavering enthusiasm. She has had a huge impact on the growth of Integrated Education through her unique ability to bring people together and create unity in seemingly impossible situations. Her ability to build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stskeholders and see every challenge as an opportunity has been hugely beneficial to the development of NICIE and to the sector as a whole. On behalf of the Board I want to thank Lorna and Roisin for their invaluable years of dedication and wish them every happiness in their retirement. As my own term on the Board comes to an end I reflect back on the achievements of the last year in which more schools than ever are on the journey to transformation and am greatly optimistic for the future of Integrated Education. As we welcome a new CEO and a new Chair I am confident that we will continue to work positively with all our stakeholders and will achieve our mission of promoting reconciliation in Northem Ireland through Integrated Education. Maeve Marnell Chair NICIE Date: 2210612024 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 22 Chief Executive Officer's Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024 It has been both an honour and a privilege to have served for the last 8.5 years as the Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Integrated Education. Most of you know I served my time with NICIE, both as a Development Officer and a Senior Development Officer between 2002 and 2007, having previously spent 12 years teaching in both primary and post primary schools, after which I was seconded to the North Eastern Education and Library Board to extend the work of the integrating Education Project. l am most grateful for the opportunity to have leamed about Integrated Education from teachers, as a governor of my own children's schools and staff members and successive Boards of NICIE including the various Trust's members. The first few years of my tenure. as the new Chief Executive OffI￿r was to build relations with the Department of Education, the Education Authority (EA). the Integrated Education Fund (IEF), the AlumNI, products of Integrated education and supporters, the Controlled Schools Support Council (CSSC), the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS). the Grammar Bodies Association (GBA), and Comhairle na Gaelscolaichta (CnaG) as well as the Transferors Representative Council (TRC), the Catholic Schools Trustee Service (CSTS) and the Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CCE4.) Relationships have never been better between NICIE and these various organisations and that has also enabled us to promote, support and grow Integrated Education. This last year 23124 has seen the highest number of strong, sustainable schools voting to Transform to Integrated Education. It has been important to continue to access places in Integrated schools for those parents and carers who want that for their children and young people. Every place in an integrated school over the last 43 years has been hard fought for by parents. NICIE and IEF staff teams and more recently EA Sectoral Support and there have been many challenges along the way. I want to pay tribute to the staff team in NICIE. who have always stepped up to provide support to enable Integrated schools to grow in size, existing schools to Transfomi and new schools to be developed. I want to pay particular credit to Senior Development Officer, Lorna McAlpine, who retires in April 2024 after 20+ years of Servi￿ to the development of Integrated Education on a number of different levels. Lorna has been a source of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and expertise. l also want to pay tribute to Cliodhna Scott Wells, Senior Development Officer for Support within NICIE for her determination, knowledge, expertise, and skills to help support all of the Integrated schools. l also want to pay particular tribute to Maureen Johnston, NICIE Finance Offi￿r, who has worked tirelessly to ensure that NICIE runs as an effective organisation and that the budget is managed. To all the other members of the NICIE staff team both past and present under my leadership, I want to say thank you for all of your support throughout my tenure. There have been many challenges over my time as Chief Executive Officer, including COVID, the search for new premises. transition to a hybrid way of working. moving to new premises. managing a very challenging. limited budget in the face of increased demand for our services. However, NICIE, as a team. along with our very dedicated Board of Directors and specifically The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 23 Chief Executive Officer's Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) our current Chair, Maeve Marnell. have worked collectively to ensure the continued development of Integrated Education over the last 8.5 years. I want to pay tribute to both of the Chairs of directors throughout my time, Alan Henry, OBE and Maeve Marnell since the onslaught of COVID and the impact of this on the NICIE staff team, the Directors and the organisation as a whole who have consistently supported me as Chief Executive Officer in navigating all of the many challenges. We lived through together. the Independent Review of Integrated Education. the passage of the Integrated Education Bill and the subsequent passing of the Integrated Education (Nl) Act 2022. coming into force in October 2022. The subsequent Integrated Education Strategy Action Plan and consultation of same has required NICIE as a collective organisation to ensure the very best outcomes for the leaders, stsff and children and young people in Integrated Education. NICIE values of inclusivity and diversity. enabling everyone to participate, and no one getting to dominate requires NICIE as an organisation to be thoughtful and considerate and enable everyone's voice to be heard. The successive Ministers of Education over my tenure, the Pennanent Secretaries and the officials in the Department of Education have had to get to know NICIE through their interaction with myself, members of our board and staff team. l am grateful for all of the support over the years when we presented robust cases for approval, and for the many approvals that were given. In the words of Paulo Coehlo from The Alchemist 'One day you will wake up and there won't be any more time to do the thing you've always wanted to. Do it now.. He also says 'lf you are brave enough to say goodbye life will reward you with a new hello.. Looking forward to my retirement. One of my favourite poets sums it up. The Sunlight on the Garden The sunlight on the garden Hardens and grows cold, We cannot cage the minute Within its nets of gold; When all is told We cannot beg for pardon. Our freedom as free lances Advances towards its end - The earth compels , upon it Sonnets and birds descend - And soon my friend We shall have no time for dances. The sky was good for flying Defying the church bells And every evil iron The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 24 Chief Executive Officer's Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued) Siren and what it tells= The earth compels. We are dying, Egypt, dying. And not expecting pardon Hardened in hearts anew, But glad to have sat under Thunder and rain with you, And grateful too For sunlight on the garden. Louis Macniece Glad to have sat under thunder and rain with you all but gratefvl too. for sunlight on the garden. I will go back to poetry and song and maybe even a dance. Remembering to keep the main thing the main thing...good outcomes for children and young people. .we are collectively responsible...thank you to all who have kept that as the main thing. Roisin Marshall The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 25 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT Introduction The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) of the Department of Education (DE). NICIE was established in 1987 as an umbrella body to represent Integrated schools and to promote Integrated Education. NICIE was set up as a company limited by guarantee with charitable status and is supported through grant in aid by DE under the Education Refom (Northem Ireland) Order 1989. The role of NICIE as defined in the Management Statement is 'to promote Integrated Education and to perfom7 a wide range of roles in facilitating the development of Integrated Education in Northern Ireland for the public benefit., The Governan￿ Statement sets out the g0Veman￿ structures, risk management and internal control prO￿dureS that have operated within NICIE during the financial year 2023 to 2024. The Annual Governance Statement has been produced in line with guidan￿ issued by DOF in accordance with the guidance in Annex 3.1 of Managing Public Money Northern Ireland (MPMNI) and forms part of the Ststutory Accounts and is reviewed, considered, and approved by the Board of Directors (BOD). This Governance statement reflected NICIE'S activities and governance for the current financial year. Scope of responsibility As Accounting Officer. l am committed to operating in accordance with best practice in business integrity and ethics and maintaining the highest standards of financial reporting and governance. I have responsibility for maintaining a sound system of controls that supports the achievement of NICIE'S policies, aims and objectives. whilst safeguarding the public funds and the NICIE assets for which l am personally responsible, in accordance with the responsibilities assigned in the MPMNI. The system of internal control is based on an on-going prO￿sS designed to identify and prioritise the risks to the achievement of the Council's policies, aims and objectives, to evaluate the likelihood of those risks being realised, the impact should they be realised, and to manage them efficiently, effectively, and economically. As Accounting Officer of a public body and designated NDPB, l am committed to governance excellence and to ensuring accountability and transparency for all decisions and activities. l am responsible to the Permanent Secretary of DE under the terms and conditions as set out in NICIE'S Management Statement (incorporating the Financial Memorandum) (MSFM). l am satisfied that I have delivered upon my responsibilities as NICIE Accounting Officer and thereby declare to the Departmental Accounting Officer of my fitness to act as Accounting Officer. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 26 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) Strategic Objectives NICIE launched its new three-year Strategic Plan 2022-2025 in April 2022. This strategic plan aims to: 1. Promote Integrated Education Promote Integrated Education to create measurable change in awareness and understanding, leading to an increase in demand for Integrated schools. 2. Grow Integrated Education Support the growth and development of Integrated Education to be an ac￿Ssible option in all geographical areas in Northern Ireland 3. Support Integrated Education Support the development of the Integrated Ethos to help govemors and leaders to advance sustainable and exemplary Integrated and Transforming schools. NICIE'S vision is a society where children are educated together, confident to express their own identity and culture" and respectful of. and prepared to engage with. the identity and culture of others. The NICIE mission is to promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland through Integrated Education. The current strategic plan sets out clearly defined strategic objectives for the year 2023-2024. 1 have ensured that the aims and objectives have been implemented with all staff, Board of Directors (BOD) and relevant stakeholders during 2023-2024 and regularly reviewed. The NICIE business plan aligned to DE'S strategic priorities clearly set out NICIE aims and objectives for the year 2023-2024 and was monitored throughout the year. Governance Framework In partnership with the NICIE Board of Directors. I have a corporate responsibility for setting objectives, agreeing priorities, and implementing ministerial policy. The BOD, and I, as the NICIE Accounting Officer and the staff of NICIE, developed and agreed a business plan for the 2023- 2024 year, which was formally approved by DE. The Business Plan was regularfy reviewed along with key risks associated with the delivery of NICIE'S objectives throughout the year. A mid-temi six-month evaluation report to 30.9.2023 and year end evaluation provided updated progress reports on the achievements of NICIE for the 12 months to 31.3.2024 to both the BoD and DE. NICIE have been working within our current Development Team capacity to respond to the increasing demand for our servI￿s. This DE funded team currently consists of three Senior Development Officers and one Development Officer. NICIE have also been successful in obtaining restricted funding from the Northern Ireland Office to fund one Senior Development The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 27 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) Officer and three Development Officers until 31 March 2025. The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has also funded a Development OffI￿r until 31 March 2025. In the 202312024 school year, there were approximately 27,000 pupils enrolled in Integrated schools. One Transfonning school got approval in September 2023.Three small unsustainable schools were not approved for Transformation. Seven other Development Proposals were approved in 2023124 including two for GMI Post Primaries and 3 for GMI Nursery units. This year has seen a continued surge in schools requesting support from NICIE regarding consideration of Transformation to Integrated Status. In 202312024 seven cases for change have been submitted to EA pro￿sseS for schools Transforming to IE ststus and have been published. In addition, there are fourteen more cases for change in the process of being progressed with the Boards of Governors from each school of which 10 are sustainable. These are all schools, which are post-ballot and seeking to Transform to Integrated status. Six schools had successful parental ballots this year. Development Proposals for significant change to the Integrated Schools sector There are 2 development proposals awaiting Ministerial decision for Nursery units. A proposal for the new Causeway Controlled Integrated College which NICIE has worked on in collaboration with the three schools. North Coast Integrated College, Dunluce College, and Coleraine College, CSSC (Controlled Schools Support Council), UU (Ulster University) and the Education Authority, has been approved by DE. Structure of NICIE Board and Committees The Board of Directors has a membership of 16 non-executive members including four DE appointees. There are currently two vacant DE Directors. The two vacant DE Directors will be filled through a forthcoming public appointments competition to be launched in the summer of 2024. The role of the Board is to provide leadership to NICIE during the budget year. within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enable risk to be assessed and managed, to set NICIE'S strategic aims. ensuring that the ne￿SSary financial and human resources are in place to meet its objectives. provide oversight to set NICIE'S values and standards and to ensure its obligations to its stakeholders and others are understood and met. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 28 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) The current BoD structure is illustrated below: Bwd of Direct¢)*s IX 161 hoals DI TruStDirect￿s Prin¢ip Y•ar* Departmentof Education App)intte5 Directors NICIE is a constituent body of member organisations with seven categories of membership: 1. School members 4 members to be elected at AGM Those engaged in running a particular Integrated school. 2. Support members l Trust 3 members to be elected at AGM Organisations for the support and promotion of Integrated Education. 3. Teacher members Representatives of teacher organisations. 2 members nominated by The Teachers Committee 4. Principal Member 2 members nominated by APTIS (Association of Principal Teachers in Integrated Schools) Representatives of principals, association. 5. Early Years members member nominated by Teachers Committee Those engaged in running pre-school provision in a particular Integrated school. 6. Co Opted Up to 3 directors To provide additional experien 7. Department of Education 4 people appointed by DE The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 29 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) Board and Committees Structure Three committees serve and report to the Board of Directors and are illustrated below. The current directors and attendance records are recorded below. The Board structure and all directors were reviewed prior to the hybrid Annual General Meeting (AGM) including attendance records to ensure that the structure complied with NICIE'S Articles of Association. NICIE Board and Committees Structure: Board of DiGeGtors Finance and eneral Purposes and staffing Committee Audit and Risk Committee Policy and Planning Committee (ARAC) {FGPSC) {p&p> Attendance at Meetings Directors, attendance at meetings held during 2023-2024 is detailed below. Please note that some directors were not in post for the fvjll financial year and joined the subcommittees during the year and the figures represent their percentage attendan￿ based on when they joined. Directorlmember 2023-2024 Board of Directors 4 Zoom mtgs + AGM) Audit & Risk Assuran Committee 4 Zoom mtgs Finan￿, General Purposes & Staffing Committee 4 Zoom meetings Policy and Planning Committee 2 Zoom mtgs Maeve Marnell Chair Sandra Patterson Matt O Neill (Member) Claire Loftus 50% 100% The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 30 (Member) John Scott Attendance at Meetings Continued Cathal Mullaghan Shane Greer Anne Murray Dr Anne-marie Telford (End ofTem Feb 2024) 50°/. 50% 100% Helen Smyth 50% Adele Kerr Bill Miscampbell (co-optee) Eamon Quinn (co-optee) 75% 100% 100% 100% Bill Fletcher ( appointed June 2023 Resigned December 2023) Colin Millar Patricia Douglas 100% 100% 50% Duncan Morrow Bob Hanna DE Rep (Resigned Feb 2024) Gavin Gray DE Rep Ashleigh Morrow 100% 75% 25% Nigel Arnold (Appointed March 2024) 100% The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 31 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) Performance of the Board 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024 The Board of Directors held four meetings including the Annual General Meeting (AGM November 2023.) It was agreed that the Board meetings would continue to focus on strategy and the future direction of NICIE in the changing educational environment and the Integrated Education Act which came into force in October 2022. The new Act requires DE to "support" as well as 'encourage and facilitate" Integrated Education. It will require "identifying. assessing. monitoring. and aiming to meet the demand for the provision of Integrated Education within the context of area planning and the overall sustainability of the school estate and providing sufficient places in Integrated schools to aim to meet the demand for Integrated Education. NICIE has been involved in the Consultation of the Integrated Education (Nl) Act 2022 Strategy Action Plan and consultation of same. The chairperson continued to review the attendan￿ of Board Members for the previous 12 months and reiterated the need for attendan￿ and participation. The Chair was satisfied with the reasons for absence and ensured that proper processes were employed to address all absences and satisfied that all Board members continue on the Board. This was closely reviewed, monitored, and reported throughout the year, in my monthly meetings with the Chair. A few new directors replaced directors that had come to the end of their term. We were delighted to welcome these new directors to add their contributions to the proactive and dynamic Board. A great deal of attention was directed to the move to NICIE'S new Offi￿ accommodation to ensure that it was affordable and the best option for NICIE. Most meetings continued to be online though there were some hybrid meetings exTrpt for a board strategy day which was held in June 2023. All new Directors received induction training to ensure that they were briefed accordingly and were aware of their duties. This included the NICIE Corporate Governance guide. which was circulated to all Board members during the year to ensure adherence and compliance. The Chair will complete the annual appraisal of directors. The chairperson continued to assess the performance of individual Board members through arrangements determined by the Department. Board members will continue to be subject to ongoing performan￿ appraisal, with a formal assessment being completed by the chair at the end of each financial year and prior to any re- appointment of individual members tsking pla￿. Feedback of the appraisal prO￿sS was shared with the Board and reported a positive working environment. The Terms of referen￿ of all committees were all reviewed during the year. The appraisals also formed part of the assessment of the Board's effectiveness and were reported accordingly. A Board Effectiveness Review was carried out in November by the Independent Internal Auditor. The subsequent report had some minor recommendations, which will be added to the Board Effectiveness Action Plan for regular review by the Policy and Planning Committee. The Chair was also appraised this year through a￿angeMentS made by the DE. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 32 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) l also had monthly 1-1 meetings with the Chair where we reviewed the committees and the strategy of NICIE and agreed agenda for Board meetings. A training programme was implemented during the year for the directors. The register of interests continued to be a standard agenda at all Board meetings to ensure that any areas of Board member conflict are addressed at the start of each meeting. The Board reviews. through the CEO {Chief Executive Offi￿r) report and a range of presentations and discussion papers, the ongoing work of NICIE and its implementation of its strategic plan and business plan. Each Senior Development Officer for Grow and Support attends one Board meeting per year to present their report card on the NICIE Business Plan. The Report Card is regularly updated and feedback from DE has been useful in improving how NICIE Staff and Directors approach Outcomes Based Accountability. During the year, the Board reviewed reports from other sub committees including the annual Internal Audit report, annual financial statements, monthly summary extracts from the management accounts and approved the Annual Business Plan and associated budgets. NICIE reviewed the progress on the existing strategic plan and drafted a 2024-2025 business plan. A review was also undertaken of the effectiveness of reporting to the Board as part of the Board Effectiveness Review. The Chairperson, Finance Officer and Chief Executive Officer met the Permanent Secretary of DE for Governance and Accountability meetings twi￿ in this financial year. Position reports were forwarded prior to these meetings highlighting any areas of significant accountability and governance. It was agreed that all was in order in the current challenging financial climate and that budgets were being managed accordingly. NICIE had hoped to be able to apply for Peace Plus Funding and were disappointed that this did not materialize. NICIE has worked closely with the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) to promote Integrated Education and is currently working with 20 schools at various stages of the Transformation process. One school successfully Transformed on 1st September 2023(Sion Mills Integrated Primary School). As part of ensuring that all Board meetings are managed in an efficient and timely manner, I ensure that the Accounting OfficerlCEO Report is circulated prior to the Board meetings along with all relevant papers. Committee Reports Role ofthe Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) In accordance with its terms of referen￿, the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) oversees financial reporting and the effectiveness of financial and regulatory compliance. controls and systems reporting. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 33 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee fonnally met on 4 occasions during 2023-2024 reviewed the Corporate Risk Register at each meeting and was satisfied that all risks were identified and corrective action taken where feasible. Some of the key risks are highlighted further in this report. The Committee throughout the year continued to review and update the Corporate Risk Register to assure members that all risks relating to working from home arrangements and business continuity were incorporated into the register and that all risks were managed and mitigated accordingly. The Business Continuity Plan was also updated and reviewed at all the AFIAC meetings. There has been a new chairperson appointed for this committee as the existing chairperson has come to the end of their tenure as a DE Representative for NICIE. The register of conflicts continued to be a standard item on the ARAC agenda. In addition, the Committee reviewed the results of the internal audit report and the implementation of previous year's audit recommendations. The Committee was also responsible for reviewing the annual statutory Directors Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31.3.2023 and will also be responsible for the reports to 31.3.2024. It also reviewed several policies and documentation from DE and DOF, which were updated by DE during the current year to ensure best practice and that DE business case, tenders, and DOF Pay Remit guidance was adhered to. The NICIE AFIAC Terms of Reference were also reviewed. and it was agreed that these would be reviewed every three years in line with the other committees in NICIE. A summary report from the AFIAC was presented to the Board by the chair of the committee following each meeting during the year. Representatives from the IMIE Team at DE also sat on this Committee this year, which assisted in giving additional assurance to the Committee that all audit requirements were adhered to and provided guidance. Finance, General Purposes and Staffing Committee (FGPSC) This Committee continues to meet before the quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors. It met 4 times during the current year. Its function is to focus more on the finance and personnel issues presented to the Board. This Committee also dealt with all issues relating to staff and premises. FGPSC also continues to review staff policies throughout the year, ensuring that NICIE has covered all areas of staffing procedures and guidance. The HR subcommittee also continued to meet where necessary during the year to dedicate more time to internal staffing issues and recruitment to ensure adequate time allocated to support the Finance Officer and me as CEO. This committee also included the Chair of NICIE. Progress was then reported accordingly to the relevant committee. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 34 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) The budget for the monthly management statements were carefully reviewed by me and the Finance Officer prior to presentation to the FGPSC who then reviewed the financial and performance management of NICIE ensuring that all budgets and internal controls were adhered to for the year up to 31.3.2024. In this Financial year a significant deal of time was dedicated to the move to new office accommodation ensuring that the accommodation was affordable and fit for the needs of all NICIE staff. It is a legal requirement that all places of work have a health and safety policy. which staff should be made aware of and adhere to. l am satisfied that a fit-for-purpose health and safety policy is in place and is reviewed regularly. l am also satisfied that the organisation has complied with all duties under Health and Safety legislation. This is a standard item on the FGPSC agenda to ensure that the office was managed in accordan￿ with government and health guidelines and that all staff were being managed and had support in terms of the ability to work from home, including pastoral care. This committee was also responsible for ensuring that NICIE was fully compliant with business case requirements. The FGPSC'S remit also includes the awarding of tenders and ensuring that NICIE adheres to strict procurement procedures with the approval of DE. However, the committee continues to raise concerns again over the costs and time that NICIE incurred adhering to DOF Procurement guidance under Construction and Procurement Delivery (CPD) when retendering for goods and services. Policy and Planning Committee (P&P) The Committee's remit during the current year included= The Independent Review of Education The Integrated Education (Nl) Act 2022 Implementation The Integrated Education (Nl) Act 2022 Consultation on the Strategy Action Plan The submission to Northern Ireland Affairs committee {NIAC) on Integrated Education Monitoring Board Effectiveness Action Plan Monitoring Progress of Strategic and Business Plans Education Authority Sectoral Support Presentation and discussion on Shared Education The Policy and Planning Committee has held two meetings during the year to formulate NICIE'S policy position and various educational policies and legislation including Kellie Armstrong's Private Members, Integrated Education Act (Nl) 2022. Committee members provide constructive challenges and guidan￿ in response to updates by a Senior Development Officers on key areas of work. It is also an opportunity for Directors to gain a better-detailed understanding of the context that NICIE is working within, including a presentation and submission to the Independent Review of Education. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 35 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) Compliance with Corporate Governance An annual review of the effectiveness of NICIE'S governance structures, as set out in the 2013 code (DAOI {DFP) 10112), risk management and internal controls has been conducted, informed by staff, directors, independent internal and external auditors. The NICIE Board has assessed that it has effectively complied with the Cor orate Governance Code. The Management Statement and Financial Memorandum (MSFM) sets out a broad framework within which the Council is required to operate. and the Financial Memorandum defines ￿rtain financial provisions which NICIE is required to observe. As Accounting Officer and CEO, I have ensured that the MSFM has been adhered to for the financial year 2023-2024. NICIE is currently working with its DE sponsor branch on a Proportionate Autonomy Framework and are currently working towards a new Partnership Agreement. which will in due course repla￿ the MSFM framework. NICIE has continued to review its internal procedures to ensure that all services are reviewed and that business cases are submitted to the Irish Medium and Integrated Education (IMIE) Team in DE in a timely fashion and that all appropriate approvals are obtained before any expenditure is committed. Training has also been given to all new staff during the year at staff meetings to ensure that controls are adhered to, and new staff are given induction training on arrival. Training needs have also been identified for new and existing directors and govemance training has been organised and provided. Induction was provided for new directors and exit interviewslsurveys were completed for all directors that left during the year. All relevant Companies House and Charity Commission for Northern Ireland requirements have been updated. NICIE continues to ensure that its governance arrangements are in place operating in accordance with best practice and that it continues to align its business aims and objectives to DE. Assurance Reporting As Accounting Officer, l am also responsible for preparing risk assurance statements and these reports provide assurance over areas of responsibility and confirm that risks are being managed. Internal Audit The scope of the internal audit plan for the current year by independent internal auditors Cavanagh Kelly was to review the controls in relation to the systems that NICIE had in place in relation to the following areas. including recommendations from last year's audit. We commissioned an independent review of the board's effectiveness. This review has been based on the Northem Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) publication 'Board Effectiveness - A Good practice Guide. (the Guide) issued in June 2022 and took pla￿ in November and December 2023. The review considered relevant information and documentation for the 2023 and 2024 financial years. This review was completed in January 2024 and presented to NICIE'S ARAC The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 36 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) Board of Directors. The independent report concluded that NICIE had an effective Board with some minor recommendations for improvements. Based on evidence reviewed and explanations obtained, the independent internal auditors concluded the Board of NICIE has demonstrated compliance with the guidance contained in the Northern Ireland Audit Office publication 'Board Effectiveness - Good practice Guide,. It was recommended NICIE could consider developing a Conflict-of-lnterest policy and reinstate asking board members and senior staff to formally complete declarations of interest, including nil returns annually. There were some minor areas of improvement which the Board agreed to implement. The Internal Auditor was therefore able to give positive assuran￿ to me as Accounting Officer that the Board's arrangements were satisfactory. A review of the progress made by NICIE in implementing prior year adjustments was also undertaken and all prior year intemal audit recommendations have been implemented. External Auditor NICIE'S newly appointed External Auditors through a tender process are SCC Chartered Accountants. There were no control deficiencies identified durin the ear to 31.3.2023 for the audit com leted b M.B.Mc Grad and com an There is unlikely to be any emphasis of matter or qualifications contained in the Audit report for 2023-2024. Other Sources of Assurance I have also relied on additional SoUr￿S of assuran￿ during the year. with regular reports from the staff, directors. NICIE Panel of Associates and independent advi￿ from HR (Human Resource), legal experts and other relevant stskeholders. NICIE also continues to report annually to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and Companies House. Quality of Data Used by the Board Senior Members of the NICIE Team and appropriately experienced officers or representatives of NICIE have supported all the committees. I regularly review and interrogate all data with Senior Management Team prior to any information being presented to the Board. These reports include monthly management accounts and budgets. which are prepared by NICIE'S qualified Chartered Accountant and are also reviewed by the FGPSC who have additional finance experience. Senior Development Officers with much experien￿ in the education sector, including reports compiled with various forums and relevant stakeholders, complete other NICIE reports. An appropriately selected Panel of Associates who have been drawn from a select list based on skills and experience compile bespoke reports. Committee Members also reviewed these reports and data and sought clarification from officers on the information presented to them. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 37 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) Additionally. our Internal Auditors Cavanagh Kelly independently compiled the internal audit report. and the External Auditors S.S Cavanagh Accountants. independently verified the Final Financial Statements. In addition. as part of the internal audit programme all the quality of data was assessed by ARAC and presented to the Board. It is my view and the view of the committees that the quality of the data used by NICIE is of an acceptable standard. The staffing structure of NICIE for 2023-2024 is highlighted below: NICIE ORGANISATIONAL CHART of Elileet￿ IX 161 Ex•¢LEliv•*ssisthntF,T FIr￿n¢•0[￿￿•r S•niorD•v&opm•ntotk•r FTTryary FJT FifTww¥y FrtPÈm¥hèTht D•v8￿pm*Thl otfiRr FrrTe￿￿ary lIB,￿23- 31r)wLs Frf f.T3¥e Iracl l.SQ023 to 31 52)25 FrrTemwwary 121612023- jf.tQ￿s I flk.2J23 ts) 3JtYJ24 31 52025 Ifan•J•r FIT PEfrrra￿I thistant Wpb51l&%wil PJT2thy5pEr PIT3 Days per I would like to highlight that l am retiring from my position as CEO with effect from 31.7.2024 and a recruitment process is currently underway managed by NICIE'S Human Resources Sub Committee. A panel has been commissioned including NICIE HR Provider and an observer from DE. The window for applications closed on the 2nd April 2024. A long-standing member of NICIE Senior Development Team. is also retiring after almost 26 years. There is contingency planning in place in the short term to manage this. Additionally. it is important to note that the majority of NICIE'S Development Team is made up of external funding posts which will come to an end 31 March 2025. Ministerial Directions No Ministerial Directions were given for the year to 31 March 2024. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 38 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) Heath and Safety l am satisfied that a fit-for-purpose health and safety policy is in pla￿ and is reviewed regularly. l am also satisfied that the organisation has complied with all its duties under Health and Safety. Whilst NICIE has always been mindful of compliance to health and safety, a working group was set up with representatives from both staff and directors to review NICIE'S hybrid policy and ensuring that the office environment was safe and managed accordingly. This was and continues to be reviewed to ensure that all risks are managed and mitigated. and that the NICIE staff are protected. and the office environment is clean and appropriately managed and that all health and safety requirements and legislation is adhered to. NICIE moved to new office accommodation during the year. This is a fully managed service government building with secure access and meets all health and safety requirements including disability access. The Office block has its own Stsff guide for Health and Safety and all accommodation details The staff handbook continues to be reviewed, updated in line with legislation and appropriate guidance and circulated to all staff and training provided where relevant. NICIE continues to support all staff through the NICIE well-being programme, and this is managed through the NICIE health and wellbeing sub-committee. Several activities including a staff team building day have been carried out during the year and staff are continuously reminded to access the free well-being programmes available to them. Risk Assessment Internal Controls and Risk Management along with the directors acknowledge our responsibility for NICIE'S system of intemal control and for reviewing its effectiveness. The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) reviewed the risks associated with the Council's activities. The Corporate Risk Register includes an evaluation of all levels of risk. Both inherent and residual risks were reviewed throughout the year with the committee and DE. NICIE had a Business Continuity Plan in pla￿, which has also been reviewed and updated to manage all internal controls including hybrid working. The Chairperson of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee reports to each Board meeting on any matters that need to be brought to their attention. I, as Accounting Officer, continue to enfor￿ and ensure that risk management is embedded and owned by the Board and all NICIE staff. This has now effectively been incorporated and embedded into all NICIE business plans and daily operations of NICIE. The corporate risk register and risk management is viewed as a dynamic process which actively seeks to incorporate good practice. It is responsive and current and is managed through regular review of both internal developments and external factors. As a NDPB. NICIE has a low-risk appetite in relation to compliance. regulation. and our strategic aims which l anticipate will continue. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 39 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) Risk Profile faced by NICIE. The NICIE corporate risk register currently identifies four significant risks. These risks are reviewed quarterly by ARAC. These are also circulated to Board Members and Staff The first three risks relate to financial management and governan￿ and some of the primary areas of concem for 202312024 are highlighted in the table below. Mana ement of Si nificant Risks Description of Risk Remedial action taken Projected Time scale to resolve the issue Failure of DEIDOF to guarantee NICIE Pension Liability Reported to BoDIExtemal Auditor. Continue to monitor and liaise with DEIDOF of any potential increases regarding non- guarantee from NILGOSC (NICIE Pension provider) Ongoing Potential Claims re employee grievances. Solicitor and HR Providers contacted and ongoing liaison to mitigate against grievances and Industrial Tribunal claim. Potential for inescapable legal bill bid. Ongoing Failure to have adequate insurance in place. DE covers Employers Liability Public Liability covered by DOF in James House Public Liability to be requested for each event where the venue requires September 2023 Limited DE budget for parental ballots and financial support for Transforming schools. Requested that IMIE apply for more financial support for the five new Transfomiing schools for the next five years from Monitoring Round. March 2024 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 40 Description of Risk Remedial action taken Projected Time scale to resolve the issue Planning groups, articulating the out workings of the statutory duty, to the Education Authority (EA) March 2024 Failure to Strategically plan for IE (Integrated Education) Ensure Cases for Change are robust and reflect a robust evidence base to support Development proposals (DP) for approval" and Continue to work with the EA through the Memorandum of Understanding {MOU) and Protocols between NICIE and the EA and the Cross- Directorate Group (CDG). Ongoing Support for development of IE by partnership between NICIE, EA. CSSC and DE Area Planning and IMIE to discuss and identify roles and responsibilities for each organisation in relation to Controlled Integrated Schools. NICIE proactive members of the Steering and Working Groups of the DE Implementation Team Ongoing Failure to effectively implement the Integrated Education (Nl) Act 2022 Review and give feedback on draft Strategic Plan Review and give feedback on Reporting on support The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 41 Description of Risk Remedial action taken Projected Time scale to resolve the issue for IE from ALBS and other support bodies Regular meetings with the DE Implementation Team Quarterly meetings with DE Governance and Risk (GAR) and DE Implementation Team Responded to consultation on the IE Act Strategy Action Plan, the Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey proposed questions and Data proposals for measuring demand and reporting on progress of the Action Plan Engagement and Consultation Protocols in place between DE and NICIE Failure to ensure NICIE staffing complement to ensure NICIE can support DE to fulfil its statutory duty to promote, encourage. facilitate and support Integrated Education. Five Business Cases submitted to IMIE to demonstrate NICIE'S need to retain staff post March 2025. NICIE are aware that staff retention will be vital to meeting DE'S statutory duty and the vision of a network of sustainable, high quality Integrated schools. Reporting of the outcomes of NICIE staff team to DE and NICIE Board through the NIIE Report Card. Careful drafting of NICIE Business Plan and NICIE Strategic Plan to ensure DE understands the need for an increase in NICIE'S budget. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 42 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) l am satisfied that these risks were managed accordingly. and that tolerable and considerable progress continues to mitigate these risks. One of the risks that continues to present the greatest challenge to NICIE relates to the failure to meet demand for Integrated Education and thus enabling parents who want an Integrated school for their child to be able to aC￿sS it. The Integrated Education (Nl) Act 2022 means that NICIE will need to work in partnership with DE. statutory and other support bodies to ensure the effective implementation of the Act ensuring the work of NICIE complements the duties placed on those organisations to further the development of Integrated Education. It is important for NICIE to play its part in promoting Shared Education and encouraging Integrated schools to actively participate. NICIE has also forwarded proposals to EA School Support team regarding Shared Learning Together EA PEACE PLUS application. and we are hopeful to be able to access staff to support Shared Learning Together. Through Area Planning, NICIE continues to encourage schools and support organisations to consider Integrated Education as an option in a time of economic constraints and the desire for educational provision in each area to remain as a choice for the whole community. Where there is no provision NICIE, in conjunction with parents and schools, must demonstrate unmet demand for such provision to be considered. This is extremely difficult in a time when the education budget constraints suggest no more growth but rationalisation. NICIE is acutely aware of the deficit in funding for education generally and is concerned with the challenges that that brings to enabling Integrated Education to grow. NICIE recognises the gap that exists for schools in local areas to consider options for Integrated Education as a solution to ensure education provision in an area. NICIE is willing and able. given financial support. to fill this gap to encourage conversations as per Transformationl new school development. NICIE are aware of the requirement now for DE and EA to assess future demand for Integrated Education and so NICIE will contribute in whatever way it can to support. We are also acutely aware of the Fresh Start Agreement Funding for capital buildings, which is enabling already existing Integrated schools that have sought so hard to be part of the educational landscape to survive into the future. NICIE wish to record the huge dismay regarding the decision to remove the ring fen￿d £150 million of Fresh Start Agreement funding for capital builds for Integrated and Shared Education. This has had a significant, adverse impact on 10 Integrated schools. NICIE are grateful for the continued support from Northern Ireland Office and Irish Department of Foreign Affairs to help NICIE to promote, meet local demand for Integrated Education and support existing Integrated schools. NICIE staff also assess internal and extemal risks of all activities, and the risk is reviewed and mitigated where feasible. Fraud Risk NICIE continues to review and implement its fraud policy during the year and has zero tolerance in respect of fraud. Internal controls were also reviewed and are clearly embedded within the organisation. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 43 NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) I have ensured that the NICIE Finance OffI￿r is a member of the DE Education Sector Fraud forum. There were no instances of suspected fraud within NICIE during the year 2023-2024. Raising Concerns at work (Whistle Blowing) NICIE has a policy on Raising Concerns at work (Whistleblowing), which encourages staff to report any instances of unlawful conduct. financial malpractice. or other actions that might compromise, in any way. the Council's reputation and integrity. There were no instances during 2023-2024. Data Security breaches There were no data security breaches or losses during the year. General Data Protection Regulation NICIE continues to maintain and review its GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) policies, current data governance processes, pr0￿dUreS, and control. NICIE staff also ensure that all archived materials were appropriately dealt with which included archiving, destroying, and returning materials to schools. NICIE'S Retention and Disposal Policy was filed and agreed with the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) to ensure that records are managed in accordance with GDPR regulations. Government Funding Database NICIE is not listed on the Government Funding Database as NICIE does not award grant funding to the community and voluntary sector. Significant Governance Issues There are no further significant governance issues. Conclusion The aim of this statement is to ensure that information is provided as to how governan￿ within NICIE has been effective for the year to 31.3.2024 and identifies a range of significant governance issues that NICIE is facing during a period of significant change, uncertainty, and challenging circumstances. NICIE will continue to ensure that it adheres to organisational needs and governance guidelines. I can confirm that I will continue to review these issues and ensure that they are addressed. This governance statement was presented to the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and formally approved by the Audit and Risk Assurance Chair on 24th April 2024. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) NICIE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued) Signature of Chair: Signature of Accounting Officer Date of Signature 24th April 2024 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 45 Remuneration Policy and Staff report The remuneration of all Council staff is detennined by the NICVA National Joint Council for local authorities and other authorities of equivalent status. The National Joint Council's principal role is to reach agreement, based on shared values, on a national scheme of pay and conditions for local application throughout the UK. The NICVA National Joint Council's guiding principles are to support and encourage: High quality services delivered by a well-trained, motivated workforce with security of employment. To this end employer are encouraged to provide training and development opportunities for employees: Equal opportunities in employment. equality as a core principle which underpins both service delivery and employment relations; and both the removal of all discrimination and the promotion of positive action., A flexible approach to providing ServI￿S to the community, which meets the needs of employees as well as employers; and Stable industrial relations and negotiation and consultation between employers and recognised trade unions. Salary and pension entitlements The following sections provide details of the remuneration and pension interests of the Board and most senior management of the department. Remuneration and pension entitlements (audited inforniation) 2023-2024 Salar 2022-2023 Total Salary {£'ooo) Beneffts Bonus Pension in kind Benefits (to (to Beneffts Bonus in kind (to Pension Total Benefits (£'OOOI £'ooo nearest £100 nearest £1.000 nearest £100 nearest £1,000 R Marshall CEO M Johnston Finance Officer C Scott Wills Senior Development OffI￿r L McAlpine Senior Development Officer S Pettis Senior Developn7ent Officer (Re￿gned M8y 2022) L Johnston Senior Development OffI￿r (Appointed July 2023) E Humme Senior Development OffI￿￿AppOInted September 2023) 65-70 100 18.000 8045 6045 100 18,000 8045 4045 100 12,000 SI￿55 4045 100 12,000 50-55 4045 100 12,000 S￿5 41k45 100 12,000 4045 4045 100 12,000 S￿5 41H5 100 12,000 50-55 4045 50-55 4045 100 1,00 50-55 4045 100 10,000 4045 100 10.000 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 46 Remuneration and Staff report (continued) Pension benefits The value of pension benefits during the year is calculated as (the real increase in pension multiplied by 20) plus (the real increase in any lump sum) less (the contributions made by the individual). The real increases exclude increase due to inflation or any increase or decrease due to a track of pension rights. Salary 'Salary' includes gross salary and any allowances all of which are subject to UK taxation. This report is based on payments made by NICIE and thus recorded in these financial statements. Benefits in kind The monetary value of benefits in kind covers any benefits provided by the employer and is treated by HM Revenue and Customs as a taxable emolument. Bonuses No bonuses were paid during the year to 31 March 2024 (2023: £nil). Off payroll engagements During the year, there were no off-payroll engagements (2023: none). Staff turnover NICIE employee turnover rate is set out in the tsble below. ril 2023 to March 2024 Number of staff /0 of headcount 31.6 ril 2022 to March 2023 Number of staff /0 of headcount 8.33 Starters Leavers 15.8 16.67 Pay Ratios The banded remuneration of the highest-paid officer in NICIE in the financial year 2023-2024 was £65.000 - £70.000 {2022-23. £65.000-£70.000). The relationship between the mid-point of this band and the remuneration of the NICIE workforce is disclosed below. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 47 Remuneration and Staff report (continued) 2023-2024 25th percentile Median 75th percentile Total remuneration {£) 27.840 36.648 46.464 Pay ratio 2.34:1 1.83.'1 1.48:1 2022-2023 Median percentile percentile Total remuneration (£) 28.126 35,961 44.539 Pay ratio 2.34:1 1.83'.1 1.48:1 Totsl remuneration indudes salary, non-consolidated perfOrMan￿-re1ated pay, and benefits-in- kind. It does not include severance payments. employer pension contributions and the cash equivalent transfer value of pensions. The values for the salary component of remuneration for the 25th percentile, median and 75th percentile were £27,840. £36.648 and £46.464 respectively. Remuneration ranged from £25,119 to £67,105 {2022-23, £22,777 to £64,676). Percentage Change in Remuneration The per￿ntage changes in respect of NICIE are shown in the following table. Percentage change for= 2023-24 v 2022- 23 2022-23 v 2021-22 Average employee salary and alloWan￿S Highest paid director's salary and allowances 3.88 % 3.01 % No performance pay or bonuses were payable to the highest paid officer or employees in these years. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 48 Remuneration and Staff report (continued) Pension entitlements Officials Accrued Real CETV at CETV at pension at increase in 31 March 31 March age 60 as at pension 2024 2023 31 March and related £'OOO £'ooo 2024 and lump sum related lump at age 60 sum £'ooo Real increasel Decrease in CETV £'ooo Employer contribution to partnership payment Nearest £100 £'ooo R Marshall Chief Executive Officer 6-10 No lump sum 10 No lump sum 0-2.5 180 125 22 M Johnston Finance Officer 0-2.5 169 122 16 10-15 Plus lump sum 10-15 0-2.5 305 236 15 C Scott Wills Senior Development Offi￿r L McApine Senior Dev&lopment Officer 16-20 Plus lump sum 1S20 (k5 No lump sum 0-2.5 413 353 Sean Pettis Senior Development Offi￿r (Resigned May 2022) 0-2.5 21 L Johnston Senior Development offi￿r (Appointed Juty 2023) E Humme Senior Dev81opment Officer(Appointed September 2023 6-10 No lump sum 0-2.5 63 52 Pension entitlements NICIE is a member of the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers, Pension scheme. The Scheme is a funded defined benefit scheme, with benefits earned up to 31 March 2015 being linked to final salary. Benefits after 31 March 2015 are based on a Career Average Revalued Earnings scheme. Details of the benefits earned over the period covered by this disclosure are set out in "The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014" (as amended) and "The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northem Ireland) 2014" (as amended). The funded nature of the LDPS requires participating employers and their employees to pay contributions into the Fund. calculated at a level intended to balance the pension liabilities with investment assets. Information on the framework for calculating contributions to be paid is set out in 'The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014" and the Fund's Funding Strategy Statement. The last actuarial valuation was at 31 st March 2023 and the contributions to The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 49 Remuneration and Staff report (continued) be paid until 31st March 2024 resulting from that valuation are set out in the Funds Rates and Adjustment Certificate. The Northem Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee is responsible for the govemance of the Fund. The accrued pension quoted is the pension the member is entitled to receive when they reach pension age, or immediately on ceasing to be an active member of the scheme if they are at or over pension age. Cash Equivalent Transfer Values A Cash Equivalent Transfer Value ("CETW') is the actuarially assessed capitalised value of the pension scheme benefits accrued by a member at a particular point in time. The benefits valued are the member's accrued benefits and any contingent spouse's pension payable from the scheme. A CETV is a payment made by a pension scheme or arrangement to secure pension benefits in another pension scheme or arrangement when the member leaves a scheme and chooses to transfer the benefits accrued in their fomier scheme. The pension figures shown relate to the benefits that the individual has accnjed because of their total membership of the pension scheme. not just their Servi￿ in a senior capacity to which disclosure applies. The CETV figures. and from 2003-2004 the other pension details, include the value of any pension benefit in another scheme or arrangement. which the individual has transferred to the CSP arrangements. They also include any additional pension benefit accrued to the member as a result of their purchasing additional years of pension service in the scheme at their own cost. CETVS are calculated in accordance with The Occupational Pension Schemes ffransfer Values) (Amendment) Regulations and do not take account of any actual or potential benefits resulting from Lifetime Allowance Tax which may be due when pension benefits are taken. Real increase in CETV This reflects the increase in CETV effectively funded by the employer. It does not include the increase in accrued pension due to inflation, contributions paid by the employee (including the value of any benefits transferred from another pension scheme or arrangement) and uses common market valuation factors for the start and end of the period. However, the real increase calculation uses common actuarial factors at the start and end of the period so that it disregards the effects of any changes in factors and focuses only on the increase that is funded by the employer. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 50 Remuneration and Staff report (continued) Staff cost (Audited) Permanently Temporary Total 2024 employed agency staff staff 2023 Wages and salaries Social security costs Other pension costs 515,965 49,289 93,701 658,955 515,965 49,289 93,701 658,955 (40,507) (157,105) 405,539 36,871 74,127 513,537 (40,501) Less recoveries in respect of outward secondments NIO Funded Staff IAS 19 - Actuarial valuation Current Servi￿ cost 103,000 161,000 Past service cosU(gain) Contributions by the employer Total Net costs (92,000) 472,343 (74,000) 560,036 Number Number The average monthly number of persons employed by the com an durin the ear was" 13 10 Some staff employed by the company in 2024 and 2023 had permanent fixed term contracts of employment. During the year the charity incurred costs of £0 (2023: £0) relating to agency staff and secondees. The staff consists of 10 female and 3 male employees. The sickness absen rate for the year was 2024.122 days 4.70/0 (2023.. 24.5 days 1.89/. The Directors and Management work continuously to reduce this figure, and this is reviewed at BOD meetings and FGPSC. The Directors received £0 for reimbursement of expenses during the year (2023.. £0). One employee falls in emoluments band over £60,000 (2023: 1) and details are below. 2024 £'ooo 2023 £'ooo Chief Executives, remuneration - Roisin Marshall 67,185 65.915 Company pension contributions to NILGOSC pension scheme. Roisin Marshall 12.765 12.612 79.950 78,527 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 51 Remuneration and Stsff report (continued) Compensation schemes - exit packages The following section provides details of the exit packages paid by the company. Number of Total number of Total number of voluntary exit packages exit packages by redundancies by cost band cost band 2024 2023 < £10,000 £10,000-£25,000 Total number of exit packages Total resource cost Maeve Marnell Chair NICIE Date: 2210612024 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 52 Assembly Accountability and Audit Report Regularity of expenditure There were no losses or special payments made by the Council in the year. (2022123- £nil) Fees and Charges There were no fees or charges made by the Council in the year. (2022123 - £nil) Remote contingent liabilities There were no contingent liabilities requiring disclosure under Assembly reporting requirements. The Council had no significant remote contingent liabilities to report 2023-24. (2022-23 £nil). Note 17 provides further details regarding the contingent liabilities, which are included in the financial statements. Roisin Marshall Chief Executive Date:2210612024 The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 53 Independent auditors, report to the directors of The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (company limited by guarantee) Opinion We have audited the financial statements of Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (the 'charitable company,) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement, and notes to the financial statements. including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and Intemational Financial Reporting Standards. We have also audited the information in the Remuneration and staff report and the Assembly Accountability and audit report that is described in those reports as having been audited. In our opinion the financial statements: give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended" have been properly prepared in accordan￿ with International Financial Reporting Standards" and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. Basis for opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with Intemational Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAS {UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors, responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitsble company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC'S Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Conclusions relating to going concern In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors, use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed. we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that. individually or collectively. may cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) Independent auditors, report to the directors of The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (company limited by guarantee) (continued) Other information The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and. except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report. we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial statements. our responsibility is to read the other information and. in doing so. consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial ststements, or our knowledge obtsined in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other infonnation. we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. Opinions on other matters In our opinion. based on the work undertaken during the audit= the information given in the Report of the Directors for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements: and the Report of the Directors has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. In all material respects the expenditure and income have been applied to the purposes intended by the Assembly and the financial transactions conform to the authorities which govern them. The parts of the remuneration and staff report and Assembly Accountability Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with DOF directions made under the Government ReSoUr￿S and Accounts Act (Northern Ireland) 2001. Matters on which we are required to report by exception In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit. we have not identified material misstatements in the Report of the Trustees. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 55 Independent auditors, report to the directors of The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (company limited by guarantee) (continued) We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: adequate accounting records have not been kept or retums adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us" or the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns: or certain disclosures of trustees, remuneration specified by law are not made. or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.: or the Governan￿ Statement does not reflect compliance with DOF guidance. Responsibilities of directors As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors, Responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law,) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. They are also responsible for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such intemal control, as the trustees determine is necessary, to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement. whether due to fraud. or error. In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going cOn￿rn, disclosing. as applicable. matters related to going con￿rn and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to ￿ase operations, or have no realistic altemative but to do so. Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assuran￿ about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Independent Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken based on these financial statements. Irregularities. including fraud. are InStan￿S of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities. outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities. including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting I￿egular1tjes, including fraud is detailed below: The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 56 Independent auditors, report to the directors of The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (company limited by guarantee) (continued) The following are required to be considered: the nature of the industry and sector, control environment and entity performance" results of our enquires of management, about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities; review of company policies and procedures relating to" identifying, evaluation and complying with laws and regulations and whether they are aware of instances of noncompliance" detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have any knowledge of any actual. suspected, or alleged fraud. -the internal controls estsblished to mitigate risks of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations. the matters discussed among the audit engagement team and specific component audit teams regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud. Because of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud is in relation to expenditure not being applied in line with intended purposes and the calculation and payment of salaries. In common with all audits under ISAS (UK), we are also required to perform specific prO￿dureS to respond to the risk of management override. Audit response to risks identified. The current audit is conducted with professional scepticism using procedures that are in accordance with International Standards on Auditing. In responding to the identified key audTt matters above we obtained an understanding of the charity's objectives and funders requirements together with the salary calculation and processing process, we performed enquires of management and inspected relevant documents and calculations, verifying expenditures, completing recalculation of salaries during the year, assessing the completeness and accuracy of disclosures within the financial statements and concurred the figures were materially accurate. In addition to the above, our procedures to respond to risks identified include the following: reviewing the full financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements" enquiring of management concems of actual and potential litigation and claims. performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud" reading minutes of meetings of those charged with govemance. obtained an understanding of provisions and held discussions with management to understand the basis of recognition or non-recognition of provisions; and The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 57 Independent auditors, report to the directors of The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (company limited by guarantee) (continued) in addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls. testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments,. assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias., and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business. We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and significant component audit teams and remained alert to any indications of fraud or noncompliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit. In addition, we are required to obtain evidence sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the expenditure and income reported in the financial statements have been applied to the purposes intended by the Assembly and the financial transactions conform to the authorities, which govern them. A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uklauditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors. Use of our report This report is made solely to the charitable company's members. as a body. in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors, report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law. we do not ac￿pt or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. Sean G. Cavanagh Senior Statutory Auditor For and on behalf of SCC Chartered Accountants Ltd Date: 2210612024 17 College Street Armagh BT619BT The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 58 Statement of financial activities (including income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2024 2024 2023 Note Incoming resourceslincome Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income Total incoming resources Resources expendedlexpenditure Charitable activities Development of Integrated Education and schools in Northern Ireland 892,295 892,295 793.399 793,399 (906,751) (771,589) Governance costs Other resources expended Other finance costs Total resources expended Net outgoing resources before recognised gains and losses Re-measurement on defined benefit pension Net movement in funds Funds at 1 April Funds at 31 March (16,308) (9,580) 4,000 (919,059) (26,764) (18,000) (799.169) (5,770) 12 7,000 {19,764) 161,298 141,534 760,000 754.230 (592,932) 161.298 14 All amounts above relate to the continuing restricted operations of the company. There is no material difference between the net outgoing resources before recognised gains and losses for the financial year stated above, and the historical cost equivalent. The net outgoing resources before recognised gains and losses is the net outgoing resources required by the Companies Act 2006 as opposed to that required by the Statement of Recommended Practice. There are no changes in equity other than the results shown in the statement of financial position therefore a separate statement of changes in equity has not been presented. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (Company limited by guarantee) 59 Statement of financial position as at 31 March 2024 2024 2023 Note Non