When proposing the Report, Professor Johnston spoke of some of the contentious issues surrounding the education sector at present, including the proposed redeployment of additional staff, withdrawal of grants and the possible outcomes of reviews of smaller schools regarding issues such as school transport. On a boarder scale, Prof Johnston discussed the economic and socio-political pressures that have resulted in increased demand for the secularisation of the education system. While he admitted the Board is not in direct control of many aspects of daily educational life, Prof Johnston noted that it is still rather influential in terms of defining policy and, of course, ethos.
 
The Report was seconded by the Rt Revd Ken Good, Bishop of Derry & Raphoe. In his address, Bishop Good called on the new NI Assembly to engage with the church regarding its involvement in education. He also stated that the Boards of Education of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist churches feel the proposal to merge Stranmillis College with Queens University Belfast as the as “the most constructive way forward”. Bishop Good concluded his speech by referring to the implementation of Safeguarding Trust in the Church of Ireland and thanked Renee English and Margaret Yarr for their dedicated work in this area. He expressed the Board’s gratitude to Claire Geoghan for administrating the AccessNI checks in parishes throughout Northern Ireland. He also thanked all those who serve on school Board of Governors and on Education and Library Boards.
 
In the debate on the Report, Synod members spoke of issues such as the percentage of schools whose patronage may be redirected, defining ethos, potential school closure, and school transport. Mrs Jennifer Byrne was thanked for her work with the Board of Education, ahead of her retirement next month.  The work of the Revd Ian Ellis, Church of Ireland Education Officer in Northern Ireland, was also praised by a number of the speakers.