Education Minister Paul Givan has published an ambitious action plan to address challenges surrounding teacher and school leader workload.
The action plan will take forward measures to address recommendations made by the Independent Review of Teacher Workload panel, which was commissioned by the Minister last year.
The Minister immediately welcomed the report and wrote to teachers in February outlining interim measures to reduce workload and his intention to respond with a detailed action plan in April.
Commenting on the publication of the action plan, Paul Givan said: “For too long, workload has been a persistent concern for the teaching profession and previous efforts to address this issue have not achieved the change necessary.
“The plan I have published represents a decisive shift, from piecemeal initiatives towards a coordinated, system level approach. It delivers on my commitment to deliver focused actions on the recommendations made by the Independent Panel with clear ownership, governance and timescales.
“Crucially, the action plan is embedded as a key element of my TransformED strategy to strengthen teaching as a profession, support teachers and school leaders and raise standards for all learners.”
Key elements of the action plan include addressing working hours and flexible working for teachers and a commitment to develop measures in recognition of the increasingly complex role of school leaders. This includes a phased rollout of enhanced administrative support, significant investment and practical actions on teacher training in Gen AI aimed at bringing meaningful workload reductions for the teaching profession.
Paul Givan concluded: “Despite financial constraints, the actions set out represent a significant commitment to teachers and school leaders. Their successful delivery will depend on continued collaboration, shared ownership and a collective determination, and sustained industrial peace across the education system to make this change a reality.”
The Teacher Workforce Action Plan is available on the DE website at: www.education-ni.gov.uk/
Further details are set out in the Oral Ministerial Statement to the Assembly: Response to the Independent Review of the Teacher Workload Report. The statement is available on the DE website at: www.education-ni.gov.uk/
