Ms Esther Doyle:

Okay. We ran a very interesting call earlier this year. Schools could put in their applications by 19 April. We were delighted to see the level of interest from schools in the two new subjects - drama, film and theatre studies; and climate action and sustainable development - because when we went into it we were not sure whether people would see it as different enough from geography, to be honest. We know it is different enough, but we wondered what schools would think.

The level of interest was phenomenal. It was great. We have selected and signed 43 schools to phase 1. I can clarify today that we have 43 schools on board. We are calling next year, from 2024 to 2025, year zero. It will be the year of teacher professional learning and continuing professional development for the schools involved. We have asked each school to nominate two teachers. We were delighted and so impressed with the qualifications of the teachers who put themselves forward to teach this new subject and I can provide great reassurance to the committee in this regard. Their backgrounds range from everything from environmental analytical science, biochemistry, geography - it is natural geography teachers have an interest as it is an allied discipline - business, economics, agricultural science and the natural sciences. Many of the teachers who have put their names forward for this new subject have gone on and completed extensive further training, whether that is all the way up to PhD, masters, or diploma level. We have seen a great qualification profile from the teachers who are coming forward on this.