About Us
The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) is the advocate for the Catholic Maintained schools sector in Northern Ireland. CCMS supports the management of Catholic Maintained schools through boards of governors. Our primary purpose is to raise standards through the delivery of key functions of workforce planning and recruitment, area planning and the provision of support to school leaders.
As the largest employer of teachers in Northern Ireland (6000 teachers), CCMS plays a central role in supporting school leaders and teaching staff whether through its welfare service or, for example, in working parties such as the Independent Inquiry into Teacher Pay and Conditions of Service.
CCMS supports trustees in the planning of a sustainable network of schools and governors and principals in the effective management and control of schools. CCMS also has a wider role within the Northern Ireland education sector and contributes with education partners to policy on a wide range of issues such as curriculum review, selection, pre-school education, pastoral care and leadership. Please click here to view our Organisation Structure.
CCMS has a multidisciplinary approach to the delivery of our key goals:
- Improving and well-being of children and young people;
- Raising standards for all;
- Delivering high quality education services;
- Improving the learning environment;
- Closing the performance gap, increasing access and equality; and
- Development the education workforce.
CCMS officers from the Education, School Planning and Provision and Workforce Planning and Governance Directorates form 3 Locality Teams. The officers, led by a Senior Education Adviser, work collaboratively, providing their own expertise to deliver a high quality service to CCMS schools.
The Locality Teams are organised along district council boundaries:
| Locality 1 Fermanagh and Omagh, Mid Ulster, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon |
| Locality 2 Derry & Strabane, Causeway Coast & Glens, Mid & East Antrim, Antrim & Newtownabbey |
| Locality 3 Newry, Mourne & Down, Lisburn and Castlereagh, Belfast |
| The CCMS Organisational Chart provides information on the personnel working in each Locality Team. |