Givan Launches £31 Million TransformED Teacher Development Fund

Key Highlights :

£31 million TransformED Fund issued to enhance teacher development in Northern Ireland.

Strategy Statement should be submitted by 29 September 2025, and an annual report on outcomes must be produced.

Key Background :

On 1 September 2025, Education Minister Paul Givan officially opened the TransformED Teacher Professional Learning Fund, a £31 million project to run over three years. The announcement is a key part of the broader TransformED education reform package, which puts high emphasis on upskilling teachers to improve educational attainment among pupils.

The fund will be available to all post-primary, primary, and special education schools. The aim is that each school will be able to avail of high-quality, evidence-based professional learning for its teachers. Investing in the professional development of teachers is how the Department of Education hopes to improve teaching quality throughout Northern Ireland.

To enable schools to get the most from this opportunity, the Department has produced comprehensive guidance. Schools need to plan and submit an Annual TPL Strategy Statement setting out their priorities and how they plan to use the funds. This should be done by 29 September 2025. Schools will subsequently need to generate annual reports describing the influence of their funded projects, ensuring accountability and year-on-year improvement.

Apart from reporting at the school level, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) will be at the forefront of examining the programme. The ETI will carry out system-level assessments annually to evaluate how well the fund is being utilized, whether it enhances teaching practice, and how it is impacting pupil attainment.

The new reporting and application system has been embedded into the C2k network, with a separate TPL tab included on the Targeting Social Need Planner. The electronic platform will facilitate easier funding management for schools, resource access, and monitoring of professional development plans.

Minister Givan emphasized that the program is not merely about investing money but making significant change within education. Through prioritizing professional development for teachers and school leaders, the TransformED TPL Fund seeks to create a culture of ongoing learning, enhance overall standards of teaching, and ultimately enhance the educational experiences and attainment of children and young people in Northern Ireland.

About the Author

Mia Jones

Mia Jones is a Managing Editor at Education Excellence Magazine.