AQW 11696/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 10/05/2024
Answered On Date: 21/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 6946/22-27, (i) for his assessment of the value of Continuing Professional Development; and (ii) how he will ensure that it is resourced.

Answer:

Access to coherent, career-long Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) is essential for maintaining our high standards of teaching and learning in schools in Northern Ireland. My Department’s Strategy for TPL, Learning Leaders, provides the vision for doing so. Teachers are expected to undertake TPL throughout their careers to ensure their pedagogy, knowledge and skills remain up to date and their pupils’ learning outcomes are consistently maximised for the attainment of their full potential.

In progressing the Strategy’s implementation, we have developed a draft TPL Framework upon which we plan to shortly consult.

To facilitate TPL in schools, five ‘Baker Days’ are designated each academic year for staff professional learning and development and they can also utilise other directed time. Additionally, in the current academic year, schools can avail of up to an additional five ‘School Development Days’ for this purpose.

The Education Authority (EA) has a statutory duty to ensure the provision of professional learning opportunities for all teachers. In delivering this duty, TPL is made available to all schools through the EA’s School Development Service (SDS) and its Supporting Learning website.

TPL is one of my Department’s key priorities and, I am seeking the expansion of TPL provision for all schools. However, this will be dependent on securing increased funding specifically for TPL, and without significant additional funding in-year, my Department will not even be able to deliver its basic statutory services without overspending.