Policy Forum for Northern Ireland

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Next steps for the education system in Northern Ireland

Independent Review recommendations | tackling attainment gaps | investment | early childhood intervention | workforce strategy | teacher retention & training | curriculum & assessment reform | priorities for Curriculum & Education Workforce Councils

January 2025


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Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF


This conference focused on next steps for the education sector in Northern Ireland.


It brought together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss key priorities following the publication of the Independent Review of Education in Northern Ireland, which outlined key recommendations to tackle educational inequalities, widen educational pathways and bolster the teaching workforce. We are pleased to have been able to include a keynote session with the review’s chair, Dr Keir Bloomer.


It also followed the response from the Minister of Education, endorsing many of the review panel’s recommendations and setting out his approach to education improvement in NI across five core areas: curriculum, assessment, qualifications, school improvement and tackling educational disadvantage. Paul Givan MLA, Minister of Education, was also a keynote speaker at this conference.


Delegates looked at next steps for the implementation of reform, with the Minister also announcing a Review of the Northern Ireland Curriculum and a forthcoming literacy and numeracy strategy, alongside wide-ranging conversation on the qualification system in NI and forthcoming legislation to ensure that young people remain in education until the age of 18, as well as discussing the qualification system in NI and proposed legislation to keep young people in education until the age of 18, including the concerns raised by the NI Children’s Commissioner.


We are pleased to have been able to include further keynote sessions with: Lucy Crehan, Lead, Curriculum Review in Northern Ireland; Martin Flynn, CEO, Open College Network Northern Ireland; and Pauline Walmsley, CEO, Early Years.


The agenda also looked at options for curriculum review and refreshment, and the proposal for separating CCEA’s curriculum and assessment function. Recommendations intended to widen academic pathways for learners were also considered, such as the impact of the Minister’s proposal to raise the age of compulsory education to 18, opening vocational pathways from the age of 14, and widening measures of assessment beyond exam performance to a broader understanding of learner success.


Looking at supporting educational improvement for all learners across NI, areas for discussion included investing in early childhood education as a means of early intervention to tackle educational disadvantage, as well as priorities for narrowing existing educational disparities and improving student outcomes.


Delegates discussed implementation of recommendations from the Expert Panel on Educational Underachievement’s A Fair Start report, and improving the understanding of student attainment gaps related to socio-economic background, gender and types of school.


Further areas for discussion included support for vulnerable learners and pupil well-being, remedying impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning progression, and key issues around alternative provision.


Delegates also looked at priorities for the teaching workforce and the potential to develop a workforce strategy, with discussion on teacher training and retention, options for a review of the Jordanstown Agreement and improving working conditions, measures for continuous professional development, and next steps for the establishment of an Education Workforce Council.


All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include officials from DoE; DfE, UK; DfE; DoF; DfC; DAERA; DoH; NIAO; and the Welsh Government.



This on-demand pack includes

  • A full video recording of the conference as it took place, with all presentations, Q&A sessions, and remarks from chairs
  • An automated transcript of the conference
  • Copies of the slides used to accompany speaker presentations (subject to permission
  • Access to on-the-day materialfs, including speaker biographies, attendee lists and the agenda