Givan: Teachers lead the way in Curriculum Reform
Date published:
Education Minister Paul Givan has hosted a major TransformED Conference to support curriculum reform and professional dialogue across the school system.
Held over two days, the conference brought together over 1,000 educators to explore the issue of curriculum reform.
Paul Givan said:
“TransformED is about raising standards and improving outcomes and that journey begins in the classroom. Our teachers are at the heart of this reform. They guide our children and young people through the most formative stages of their development.
“This conference is about empowering school leaders to deliver a curriculum that is ambitious, inclusive and rooted in evidence of what works.
“Curriculum reform lies at the core of TransformED. Northern Ireland needs a new curriculum framework — one built on powerful knowledge: carefully chosen, coherently structured and taught with clear purpose.
“I want to develop a curriculum that sparks curiosity, sharpens analytical thinking and equips young people to engage confidently with complex ideas.
“A knowledge-rich curriculum ensures depth in teaching and learning, with concepts and content intentionally sequenced, so that every child makes meaningful progress.”
The conference programme showcased knowledge-rich approaches across a range of subject areas, with a strong focus on curriculum leadership and coherence. Delegates were encouraged to engage in discussion, ask questions and reflect on what reform means for their schools and pupils.
Over the two days, speakers included: Christine Counsell OBE; Dame Ruth Miskin; Tim Oates CBE; Kris Boulton; Bradley Busch; Lucy Crehan; David Didau; Dr Michael Fordham; Rachel Foster; Heather Fearn; Jasper Green; Grace Healy; Alistair Hamill; Dr Suzanne Kingon; Geraldine Magennis-Clarke; Mark McCourt; Daniel Muijs; Andrew Percival; Catherine Priggs; Naveen Rizvi; Mark Roberts; Madeleine Roberts; Clare Sealy; David Thomas; Simon Toyne and Ed Watkins.
The Curriculum Taskforce, chaired by Christine Counsell, is developing a new statutory curriculum framework. Teachers are being invited to join subject working groups to help shape the reforms.
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