Education Minister is today hosting a major
TransformED School Leaders' conference in Belfast.
Bringing together over 600 delegates, the conference will focus
on key areas within the TransformED NI Strategy, including
curriculum, assessment, accountability, improvement and
professional learning.
Education Minister said: “On the 11th of
March, I launched the TransformED strategy, and just last week, a
Delivery Plan that will turn that ambition into action. Today's
conference provides an opportunity to engage with school leaders
and to talk about what TransformED means for our schools and for
the future of our children.
“Education is the foundation of everything we aspire to
be as a society. It shapes our economy, our communities and our
shared future. When we get education right, we unlock
opportunities for every child, we close the gaps of disadvantage
and we build a prosperous, inclusive, and united future.
“That is why TransformED isn't just a strategy—it's a
promise. A promise to every child that they will have access to a
world-class education. A promise to every teacher and school
leader that you will be supported, valued and empowered. A
promise to every parent that their child's capabilities will be
nurtured, no matter their circumstances.”
continued:
“Our education system has been under
considerable stress for a sustained period and I
recognise the challenges that our teachers and school leaders
face daily. My goal is to reform and revitalise our education
system, to invest meaningfully in our educators and to ensure
that those who shape the future are themselves valued and
sustained.
“Investing in education means investing in knowledge; in
giving every child an opportunity to thrive; in promoting
creativity and improving well-being. It is the most
important investment we can make in our future.
“We must therefore be ambitious for every child and bold
for our plans for reform and ensure our education system is world
leading - excellent, equitable, inclusive and able to meet the
needs of all children and young people in an ever-changing
world.”
During the conference, delegates will hear from an international
panel of experts, including: -
- Lucy Crehan, who will outline the recurring themes and
initial findings from the Strategic Review of the Northern
Ireland Curriculum that she was commissioned to carry out in
October 2024.
- Daisy Christodoulou, who will speak to conference delegates
about the importance of high standards and the centrality of
knowledge in education – including the relationship between
knowledge and skills and how assessment and system level data can
drive improvement.
- Tim Oates, who will discuss the power of effective
accountability and explained how it sits within the key factors
driving and maintaining quality of education.
- Bradley Busch, who will highlight the importance of becoming
an evidence-informed education system.
- Hardip Begol, who will outline the findings from the 2014
curriculum reform in England and share what made the reforms
successful, what should have been better and lessons for Northern
Ireland as it embarks on reform.
- Dr Nina Hood, who will explain the process for ensuring
evidence informs policy and practice to conference delegates.
Highlighting the challenges and opportunities of such an
approach, Nina will share her experience in New Zealand when
transforming literacy instruction.
- Harold Hislop, who will present on the importance of
investing in teachers' professional development, emphasising that
teachers are the key deliverers of any improvement or change in
the education system.
