School choice and travel patterns in Northern Ireland: economic, social, and environmental impacts of a complex system

The Northern Ireland government is implementing policy reforms to its education system. These reforms have generated much heated debate and division along political party lines. However, none of the controversy has addressed the implications of the current or potential arrangements for travel and sustainability. This paper considers the implications of the planned reform of the education system in Northern Ireland, some potential alternatives for school choice and travel behavior, and the financial, economic, and environmental impacts on society. The study is informed by in-depth household-based surveys that encompass school choice and travel patterns, attitudinal questions, and stated preference experiments. Northern Ireland offers an indication of the potential pitfalls other areas may encounter when emphasizing increased choice in education systems.