EDUCATING FOR EXCELLENCE: Choice and Opportunity
The Executive's Response to the National Debate
WORKING TOGETHER
WHAT PEOPLE SAID - People value the high quality and commitment of teachers.
- Too many initiatives and a heavy workload are affecting the morale of teachers and their ability to focus on high quality teaching.
KEY COMMENTS MADE - More opportunities for pupils with special talents.
- More team working between teachers, social workers and medical services to help support young people.
- Improve initial training and continuous professional development for teachers.
- Smaller class sizes and more qualified staff.
- More support for pupils with special needs.
OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE - Teachers to lead the team delivering school education.
- The right balance of staff so that pupils can spend more time learning in small groups and get the attention they need.
- Support staff will have a greater role in working with groups of pupils and freeing teachers of administrative burdens.
- Teachers working across primary and secondary schools. Ensure specialist knowledge and skills are available to all schools.
- Promote sharing of expertise and best practice by teachers at local and national level.
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FIRST STEPS FOR ACTION
> Promote more small group learning to ensure that we meet the individual needs of all children.
> Bring forward proposals to reduce class sizes and improve pupil/teacher ratios at critical stages such as P7, S1 and S2, particularly in Maths and English.
> Make best use of specialist teachers in both primary and secondary schools.
> Improve transition from pre-5 to primary, from primary to secondary school and fromschool into work or lifelong learning.
> Improve "quality cluster" arrangements between secondary schools and associated primary schools.
> Enable teachers to work across primary and secondary schools.
> Review and reform Initial Teacher Education.
