Givan launches new strategy to transform teacher professional learning

Date published: 26 August 2026

The strategy sets out a comprehensive programme of reform to strengthen teacher development, drive educational improvement and support excellence across the system.

The new strategy delivers a key commitment within the TransformED Strategy and Delivery Plan and replaces the Department's 2016 Learning Leaders strategy. It establishes a coherent, career-long approach to professional learning, supporting teachers from Initial Teacher Education through induction, early professional development, leadership development and system leadership.

Paul Givan said: 

"No education system can exceed the quality of its teachers and no vision for transformation can be realised without investing deeply in those who make learning happen every single day. This strategy recognises that investing in our teaching profession is essential to delivering high-quality education and achieving the ambitions of TransformED.

"Leading Together for Excellence sets out a clear vision for a world-class professional learning system that supports teachers throughout their careers, develops leadership capacity at every level and helps ensure that all children and young people receive the best possible educational opportunities.”

The new strategy outlines a series of major reforms and multi-year investment including:

• Establishing a clear professional learning continuum from Initial Teacher Education to system leadership.
• Modernising the Teacher Competences Framework to reflect current educational priorities and professional expectations.
• Introducing dedicated Leadership Standards for Northern Ireland.
• Establishing a new Centre for Educational Excellence and Improvement within the Department of Education to lead both professional learning and leadership development across the education system. 
• Providing dedicated funding for schools to invest in professional learning. 
• Investing in a wide range of teacher development, including subject-specific and curriculum-aligned professional learning.
• Enhancing Initial Teacher Education through a common curriculum framework.
• Guaranteeing high-quality induction arrangements for newly qualified teachers.
• Strengthening Early Professional Development as a distinct phase of the teaching career.
• Expanding structured leadership development pathways for aspiring, middle and senior leaders, as well as principals.
• Creating a unified digital professional learning platform.
• Investing in and improving collaboration and coordination across the education system.
• Bespoke professional learning investment and programmes for the Irish-medium sector. 

Paul Givan concluded: 

"This strategy represents a significant step forward in creating a more coherent, accessible and impactful professional learning system for Northern Ireland.

Importantly, it is more than an aspirational policy document. Significant implementation is already underway, and we are putting in place the structures, partnerships and governance arrangements needed to ensure its successful delivery."

Leading Together for Excellence: A TransformED NI Strategy for Teacher Professional Learning is available here: Leading Together for Excellence - a TransformED NI Strategy For Teaching Professional Learning August 2026.pdf