Request for Tenders for the provision of an Independent Evaluation of the Small Schools Action Research Project

The small schools action research project (SSARP) which falls under the remit of the Department of Education and Youth (DEY) has been in operation since January 2022 and is due to conclude at the end of this school year (June 2026). This project aims to encourage small schools to cluster together in local groups, enabling them to collaborate and identify common challenges and trial innovative solutions. The clusters have been asked to self-identify areas in which they wish to collaborate and identify possible solutions to some of the challenges they face.

The focus of their work is the sustainability of small schools and they are currently implementing project work in this area. The DEY invites tenders from suitably qualified and experienced persons to deliver a final independent evaluation of this action research project and to provide an understanding of the impact of the implementation and outcomes of the project that will help inform the future policy development for small schools and their long-term sustainability.