AQW 28134/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 04/06/2025
Answered On Date: 13/06/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on investment in teacher professional learning, as set out in the Minister's oral statement on the Independent Review of Education.

Answer:

The TransformED NI Strategy and its accompanying Delivery Plan (published on 11 March and 29 April 2025 respectively) set out my key priorities for teacher professional learning, informed by the Independent Review of Education.

The Delivery Plan sets out the implementation approach, key delivery partners, indicative timescales and estimated investment for all actions relating to teacher professional learning.

Key actions include an expanded programme of Teacher Induction; renewed and expanded provision for school leaders at all levels; additional funding for schools to purchase high-quality professional learning to meet their needs; improved access to education research for teachers through the Making Best Practice, Common Practice programme; an online science of learning programme for both primary and post primary schools; and professional learning communities to support subject-specific professional practice and collaborative professional learning clusters in partnership with the Higher Education Institutions. Implementation has commenced across a range of areas.