Independent Review of Teacher Workload Panel announced

Date published: 1 May 2025

The establishment of the panel was a commitment made by the Minister as part of the teachers’ pay settlement for 2024/25.

The panel will examine all aspects of workload faced by teachers and school leaders and will make recommendations for the way forward. They will also monitor the implementation of a series of workload commitments issued alongside the pay offer.

The three members appointed by the Minister are: Chairperson - Paul Sweeney, Members – Larry Flanagan and Liam Perry.

Welcoming the establishment of the panel Paul Givan said: 

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of the Independent Panel who will tackle the review of teacher workload.

“Teacher workload is a key concern raised by teachers and school leaders and I am committed to addressing this issue. I want to ensure that teachers can focus on what matters most – teaching, learning and supporting pupils in the classroom.”

The panel members are due to report to the Minister by the end of November 2025.

The Minister continued: 

“Each of the panel members appointed to the review has an extensive breadth of knowledge, expertise and experience of the education sector. I want to thank each of them for dedicating their time to this very important work.

“I encourage stakeholders, invited to inform this work, to help support the work of the panel.”

The panel appointments are:

Paul Sweeney (Chairperson) – Paul retired from the Northern Ireland Civil Service in 2017 having held a number of senior positions, including Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education from 2010 to 2017; Permanent Secretary in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure from 2006 to 2010; and Under Secretary in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister from 2001 to 2006. He currently holds one public appointment as Chair of the Northern Ireland Committee of the National Lottery Community Fund.

Larry Flanagan (Northern Ireland Teaching Council nomination) - Before becoming General Secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (a post he held for 10 years), Larry was a classroom teacher for 33 years, primarily in his home city of Glasgow. He served a four-year term as the European President of Educational International (EI), the global federation of Education Unions, as well as advising EI on the International Summit on the Teaching Profession. He currently Chairs the OECD Trade Union Advisory Committee Working Group on Education and Skills. Larry is the author of several English textbooks, and he remains a registered teacher in Scotland.

Liam Perry (Management Side nomination) – Liam commenced his extensive experience within the education sector as a teacher in St Malachy’s High school in 1981.  Further roles followed as senior teacher/Head of Department in St Mary’s CBGS, before taking up the role of principal of St Columbanus’ College between 2004 and 2021.  In addition to his teaching and leadership roles, Liam had significant experience as an Associate Assessor with the Education and Training Inspectorate until his retirement in 2021. Since retirement, Liam has undertaken consultancy work with schools, the Education Authority, and the Department of Education. Liam was awarded an MBE for services to Education in Northern Ireland in 2019.