Education Minister 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, 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.
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/publications/teacher-workload-action-plan
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/publications/oral-statement-response-independent-review-teacher-workload-report
