AQO 3626/22-27 Oral question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education for his response to the report on the Independent Review of Teacher Workload in Northern Ireland.
Asked by Stewart Dickson MLA on 21 May 2026
- Answered
- Oral
- Tabled
- 21 May 2026
- Answer due by
- 1 June 2026
- Answered
- 1 June 202611 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
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.