New funding boost to support teacher and classroom assistant development

Date published: 6 October 2025

A total of £68,000 has been committed to funded places for 2025/26, supporting:

• 100 teachers to gain full membership of the college and complete the Chartered Teacher Status programme, a respected, research-based accredited professional learning programme, and
• 100 classroom assistants to receive associate membership of the college and access to tailored professional learning, including a range of courses on Supporting Evidence-Informed Teaching & Learning and Practitioner Enquiry. 

Paul Givan said: 

“A key commitment within the TransformED Strategy is to support education staff to access and use research. We have already taken significant strides forward in delivering on that commitment, and this partnership with the Chartered College is another step in making that happen.

“Teachers and classroom assistants play a vital role in our schools. By funding access to the Chartered College’s learning programmes, we are helping them grow in confidence, explore new ideas and encouraging reflection, dialogue and debate.

“Providing access to the Chartered College’s professional learning programmes will build on the success of the Making Best Practice, Common Practice programme, complementing it with further opportunities for practitioners to engage in meaningful, evidence-informed professional learning.

“I am delighted to also extend this opportunity to our classroom assistants, in recognition of their vital role in supporting teaching & learning. Enhancing their professional learning opportunities is something which I also hope to further expand, as implementation of TransformED is progressed.”

In coming weeks, the Education Authority will invite practitioners to apply for available places and further information on the application process will be provided.