AQO 3626/22-27

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 21/05/2026
Answered On Date: 01/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for his response to the report on the Independent Review of Teacher Workload in Northern Ireland.

Answer:

I am committed to tackling the issue of workload and ensuring that teachers can focus on what matters most – teaching, learning and supporting pupils. That is why I commissioned an Independent Panel last May to look specifically at teacher and school leader workload.

In response to the Panel’s report, the Department published a Workload Action Plan on 28 April 2026, translating the Panel’s recommendations into practical, deliverable and time-bound measures.

The Workload Action Plan forms a key part of my wider TransformED programme, which is focused on modernising education, strengthening the profession and improving outcomes for learners. It sets out a clear programme of reform to reduce unnecessary workload and deliver a more manageable and sustainable workload culture for teachers and school leaders.