Council, Boards and Development Groups
Council
The 26-member Council is a representative structure of the NCCA. For further information on the Council, click here.
Boards
In the NCCA’s existing structure, oversight of the curriculum and assessment work in early childhood and primary, junior cycle and senior cycle is carried out by Boards. For further information on the Boards, click here.
Development Groups
To provide a strong, representative, and responsive basis for its curriculum and development work the NCCA has established Development Groups to undertake specific tasks in curriculum areas or subjects. For further information on the Development Groups, click here.
Chief Executive
Arlene Forster is Chief Executive of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).
A graduate of Stranmillis University College, Arlene began her career as a primary school teacher. She taught at all class levels, working in multi-grade and single-grade settings, and contributed to school and curriculum development as part of the middle leadership team. Having completed postgraduate studies in University College Dublin, Arlene joined the NCCA in 2001. Through her roles as Education Officer (2001-2002), Director (2003-2015) and Deputy CEO (2016-2020), she led work in areas such as curriculum review, assessment, reporting to parents, language, mathematics, science and the development of Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. Arlene was appointed CEO in late 2020.
The role of the CEO is to bring vision, strategic leadership and effective management across NCCA’s work to ensure that it discharges its functions effectively and maximises its impact on enhancing the quality of the education experience of all students.
Arlene can be contacted at: ceo@ncca.ie
Deputy Chief Executives
The two Deputy Chief Executives, Patrick Sullivan and Barry Slattery, play a key role in leading and progressing the work of the executive in delivering on the Strategic Plan, in the management of staff and in liaising with stakeholders. They manage and coordinate the work of the Directors and full time and part time Education Officers. They propose, monitor and report on national and international networks, research and development initiatives. They engage with the media and with the general public to promote awareness of and engagement with NCCA’s work.
Head of Corporate Services
The Head of Corporate Services, Áine Armstrong Farrell, is responsible for leading, managing and developing the corporate services functions of the NCCA, taking responsibility for work related to financial, HR and operational matters.
The Executive
NCCA currently has a full time executive staff led by the Chief Executive.
Directors
The team of Directors play a key role in leading and progressing the work of the executive in delivering on the Strategic Plan, in the management of staff and in liaising with stakeholders. They co-ordinate and support the work of Education Officers, teams and the Development Groups or Boards working in the areas for which they have responsibility. They work with the corporate services team and deal with queries and requests from the education sector, the media and the general public. They engage with national and international networks, researchers and academics to support their work.
Education Officers
Full and part-time Education Officers assist the executive in delivering on the Strategic Plan. In addition to working with Education Officers on other curriculum and assessment projects, they also work with the corporate services team as well as with national and international networks, researchers, consultants and experts to support their work. They deal with queries and requests from the education sector and from the general public as they arise.
Corporate Services
Corporate Services is an internal support team working in the areas of finance, HR and operations.