WomenEd Northern Ireland

6th birthday unconference graphic

🎉 Tickets are now LIVE for our 6th Birthday Unconference at Ulster University Belfast on 20th September 2025!

Join us for a morning of insightful sessions and panels centred around the core #WomenEd campaigns

🎓 Free for student teachers and classroom assistants!

👉 linktr.ee/womenedni

#WomenEd Northern Ireland: 6th Birthday Unconference We’re turning 6 and celebrating with our biggest Unconference yet!  Join us on Saturday 20th September 2025 at Ulster University, Belfast for a day of ins

Please join #WomenEd Northern Ireland for a day of celebration! @womenednireland.bsky.social

Saturday September 20th at Ulster uni.

Tickets and more details to follow but get it in your diary!

womened.com/events/women...

A Poem for the #WomenEd Tenth Birthday Celebration from Northern Irela by Sandra Patterson In a circle of support, we stand so strong, Guidance flows freely, where we all belong. Collaboration ignites the spark

A beautiful poem from @sandyzpatterson.bsky.social ( @womenednireland.bsky.social) for our Tenth Birthday Celebration 💜

womened.com/blog/a-poem-...

Save the date: WomenEd NI 6th birthday unconference Saturday 20th September Ulster University Belfast

🎉 Save the Date! 🎉

We’re turning 6 and celebrating with our biggest Unconference yet! Join us for a day of inspiration, connection and courageous conversations with leading voices in education.

💜 #WomenEd Unconference
📍 Ulster University, Belfast
📅 20.09.25

@womened.bsky.social

We are sending Vivienne an abundance of love and healing energy. We are holding her and her loved ones in our thoughts and wishing her lots of comfort and strength for a speedy recovery.
We’re delighted to hear she is planning contributions for the 10th birthday - we will look forward to that! 💜

Yesterday, educationalists from across Ireland gathered for the @collegeofteaching.bsky.social CCE Round Table discussions led by @niarichards.bsky.social and @alisonpeacock.bsky.social.

Proud of our @womenednireland.bsky.social planning team for making this happen.

It's been a busy weekend! I'd the privilege to attend @cceengland.bsky.social roundtable Leading for Creative Thinking in association with @collegeofteaching.bsky.social at @ulsteruni.bsky.social It was great to be in room with such inspiring and passionate educators @womenednireland.bsky.social

What a fantastic weekend of Walk and Talks to mark 10 years of #WomenEd and to connect as a community ahead of #IWD2025

🗓️ Save the date for our 6th anniversary uncoference:
20th September 2025

We will be at the Afghan Solidarity Concert next Sat 8th, 4pm. Hope to see you there! Tickets in bio 💜

Fantastic weekend for @womened.bsky.social. Two 'Walk and Talk' events held across our province. Lots of conversations, connections, and collaborations.

Proud to be a part of our @womenednireland.bsky.social team alongside @hilljackie10.bsky.social, @digiknownicole.bsky.social, and Amanda Murphy💜

Teacher/ Learning Support/ Education friends...

If you are free on Saturday 1st March or Sunday 2nd March then consider joining a Walk and Talk event.

Come along and share experiences, network, distress, catch up, or just to enjoy the craic!

Register here - linktr.ee/womenedni

#WomenEd Northern Ireland: Walk and Talk 1st March Join us for a WomenEd NI Walk & Talk! Or just meet us for a cuppa afterwards 💜

Join @womenednireland.bsky.social on 1st March for the first of two weekend walks...

Or come for the coffee after!

womened.com/events/women...

This year’s International Women’s Day theme from the @unitednations, “For ALL Women and Girls”, reminds us that the struggle for equality knows no borders. Together, we can drive change - locally and globally.
Stay tuned for more info via beyondskin.net/iwd25

#WomenEd #IWD2025 #ForAllWomenAndGirls

Afghan Women The Solidarity Concert promo flyer from WomenEd

We are proud to support this powerful programme of events, culminating in the Afghan Women Solidarity Concert on International Women’s Day. We invite the incredible educators in our network (including our #HeForShe allies) to stand with us in solidarity to end violence against women and girls. ✊

Everyone is welcome so bring your family, a new friend and any #HeForShe allies too!

WALK AND TALK Saturday 1st March 10am - The Peace Bridge Meet at Guildhall for 10am 11am - The Ebrington Hotel LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE COMING: linktr.ee/womenedni BUILD UP TO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY WITH US

Sunday 2nd March 1pm - Bangor to Crawfordsburn Meet at McKee Clock for 12:50pm 3pm - Woodlands Café LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE COMING: linktr.ee/womenedni BUILD UP TO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY WITH US

🌿🚶‍♀️ Join us for a WomenEd NI Walk & Talk! Or just meet us for a cuppa afterwards 💜

On the first weekend of March we will host one in the North West and one in the East as we build up to International Women’s Day!

See you there! 💜

🔗 linktr.ee/womenedni

2025 happy new year - here’s to a new year filled with bravery and confidence for all in our community.

Thank you for being a part of our #WomenEd community in 2024 - bring on 2025! 💜

From all of us here at the #WomenEd Northern Ireland network, have a joyful and peaceful festive season. 🌟
Look out for one another. 💜

"To break a glass ceiling, we must first have the possibility to access opportunities, be given the time to showcase skillset, and know that the other side of the ceiling exists for us to take up space in it." - Sheree Atcheson

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At #WomenEd we aim to change this narrative by:
✅ Supporting middle and senior leaders
✅ Encouraging women to be 10% braver
✅ Hosting regional and global events to inspire women

We would love you to join us in creating a more balanced education landscape - because representation matters!

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Let's break it down further for our NI context (stats from NISRA):

🟣 In Nursery, primary and preparatory schools, 63.6% of Principals are female
🟣 46.9% of post-primary Principals are female
🟣 25% of University Chancellors/Deputy Vice Chancellors, and 33% of FE College Principals are female

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WomenEd Campaign Spotlight: Representation of Women Leaders in Education

The Numbers Don't Lie 📊
Despite women making up the majority of the education workforce (77%), they're significantly underrepresented in senior leadership roles, particularly Principals (61%).

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Join #WomenEd in building a richer educational landscape that celebrates our uniqueness and supports all educators to thrive. Your voice and experience matter in shaping a more inclusive future for education, including here in NI.

"Diversity makes for a rich tapestry" - Maya Angelou

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We have to nurture diversity through intentional action such as:
✅ Actively sharing diverse stories, lessons and voices in classrooms
✅ Supporting teaching as a career for people from various cultures, ethnicities, abilities, faiths etc.
✅ Promoting the visibility of diverse women in education
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What #WomenEd do:
🟣 Increase the representation of diverse groups in education leadership
🟣 Empower women of all cultures, abilities, genders, ages, and backgrounds to lead
🟣 Offer guidance for how these diverse groups of women can achieve success in leadership and the application process

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WomenEd Campaign Spotlight: Diversity of Women Leaders in Education

At #WomenEd NI, we envision an education system reflecting our diverse pupils. While Northern Ireland's schools are becoming increasingly multicultural, our teaching staff doesn't yet mirror this rich diversity.

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The #WomenEd Flexible Working campaign aims to:
✅ Promote flexible work practices in schools
✅ Retain more women educators and leaders
✅ Drive systemic change among school leaders

Join us in building an inclusive education sector where professionals can thrive at work and home.

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Flexible working options are also important for those seeking further education and a better work-life balance.

What might this look like?
🟣Flexible start and finish times
🟣Job sharing, including leadership roles
🟣Working from home e.g. PPA, report writing days etc.

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a purple and white flexible working graphic with the words: advocate for flexible working practices

#WomenEd Campaign: Flexible Working in Education
This isn't just a perk - it’s essential for many women with disabilities or caregiving responsibilities. EU research highlights that parenthood disproportionately impacts mothers in the labor market due to unequal caregiving burdens (GEI, 2019).
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Fantastic achievement and recognition for a powerful project on the #DreamGap. Congratulations, Sandra! 👏 #WomenEd

This campaign aims to:
✅ Raise awareness of pay disparities
✅ Advocate for reducing the gender pay gap
✅ Equip women to negotiate fair pay

Join #WomenEd in creating a more equitable education sector. Because fair pay isn't just about numbers - it's about valuing all educators equally.

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