AQW 18863/22-27


Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley


Tabled Date: 26/11/2024
Answered On Date: 06/12/2024
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any action his Department is taking to support school leaders with their workload.


Answer:
The teachers' Workload Agreement TNC 2024/2 was jointly developed and agreed by both the teaching trade unions (NITC) and Management Side of TNC.
The agreement clarifies the legislative terms and conditions of teaching staff including working hours, teaching time, cover arrangements and supervision.
The guidance outlined in the agreement has been developed to provide a framework for Principals and Boards of Governors to ensure the allocation and distribution of duties to all Principals, Vice Principals and Teachers is managed in a fair and reasonable manner that enables staff to observe their contractual requirements with sufficient time to enjoy a reasonable work/life balance.
The Workload Agreement TNC 2024/2 is effective in providing clarification, advice and guidance on teachers' terms and conditions to Boards of Governors, Principals and Teachers.
In April 2024 a joint commitment between Management Side and NITC was given to design a framework to address the recommendations contained in the 8 completed workforce reviews.
A timetable for the implementation of those areas which can be progressed, both immediately and over a short to medium term has now been jointly agreed with the trade unions.
The focus by both Management Side and the NITC is to determine the areas of work which, once revised and implemented, will have the potential to impact positively on working practices within the education sector.
A programme of work has been prepared grouping the recommendations which are in progress and those that can be progressed with existing resources into themes, one of which is School Leaders.
One of the original major areas of contention was the workload associated with inspections and through positive engagement between NITC and the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) the processes have now moved towards a position of greater ongoing professional support and dialogue with an aim of supporting school improvement.