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Landmark Conference attracts School Leaders

Press Release - School Principals will meet on Thursday 21st January 2010, in the Island Centre, Lisburn to discuss a range of strategic issues impacting on current and future education in NI.

Key speakers to the conference include Gavin Boyd, Chief Executive EDAIT, Shane McCurdy ESAIT Director of Finance and Gillian Boyd, Education and Training Inspectorate [ETI] and the conference, which is jointly organised by the Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO and the Ulster Teachers’ Union (UTU), has attracted enormous interest with over 100 participants signed up.

The demand to attend this conference is overwhelming and is reflective of the mood of school leaders across the education spectrum. The agenda for the conference includes the proposed new working arrangements with the Education and Skills Authority (ESA), the potential impact of the proposed changes in the arrangements for Special Educational Needs review and how educational change will impact on school budgets and planning.

Mr Lexie Scott President UTU said:

“School leaders are naturally very anxious about the impact which the setting up of ESA will have on their schools and the terrific response we have had for the conference shows that is clearly a very important topic,” commented Lexie Scott, president of the UTU.

“The Ulster Teachers’ Union and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation have been cooperating informally for many years,” But with the setting up of our Joint Board we are establishing practical ways of dealing with those common interests which our members and indeed all teachers share.”

 Kevin Smyth Chairperson INTO said:

” This Conference is designed to allow those in leadership in our schools to have a voice. It will also allow both INTO and UTU to reflect and plan to meet the demands of school leaders more effectively. There is a clear message to those that any change in education arrangements and funding must be agreed with those who are required to manage our schools.”

Date: Thursday, 21 January 10