To ask the Minister of Education when will the Independent Review of Education panel begin stakeholder engagement.

The recruitment process to appoint the independent panel is nearing its completion and work on the review will commence shortly thereafter.

It will be for the appointed Chairperson and panel to determine its own workplan and agree a suitable approach to stakeholder engagement. The terms of reference for the review make clear that the work should be delivered in a collaborative manner with significant stakeholder engagement. The panel is expected to engage with a wide range of relevant groups, organisations and individuals in order to provide opportunity for issues to be raised, opinions heard and evidence presented. I would therefore expect stakeholder engagement to be a key priority for the panel once work commences.