As part of the redevelopment of the Primary School Curriculum, NCCA consulted on the Draft Primary Curriculum Specifications in Arts Education; Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) in the Primary Language Curriculum; Social and Environmental Education (SEE); Science, Technology and Engineering Education (STE); and Wellbeing from March 6th to June 7th 2024. Thank you to all those who took part in the consultation. All feedback is currently being analysed, and a consultation report will follow later this year.
You can access the five Draft Primary Curriculum Specifications below, as well as short information videos providing an introduction to each document.
All organisations and individuals were given an opportunity to make a written submission using an online form or by sending an e-mail. The deadline for receipt of written submissions has now passed. Thank you to all those who contributed.
There were a number of questionnaires for those working in education and parents/ guardians.
These questionnaires are now closed and will be analysed in the months ahead.
In January 2024, NCCA invited expressions of interest from primary schools and special schools to participate in the schools networks component of the consultation process. The expression of interest form is now closed and thank you to all schools who submitted an application.
Five Schools Networks were established, one network for each draft curriculum specification. The schools in the networks represented a wide range of schools types and contexts.
NCCA worked with these schools from March to June 2024. During this time, the schools attended two in-person meetings and two online meetings with other schools in the network, as well as work with NCCA staff during a school visit the school.
We greatly appreciate the value and importance of working directly with schools to benefit from the experience and expertise of teachers and school leaders. The feedback gained from the school-based consultation, combined with other consultation components, will inform the finalisation of the primary curriculum specifications.
As part of the consultation, NCCA held a number of in-person and online focus groups for teachers, school leaders and parents. These events have now concluded and thank you to all those who attended and contributed.
In-person focus groups
NCCA held in-person focus groups at the following locations.
| Athlone Education Centre | March 13th, 3.45pm-5.15pm |
| Cavan (Cavan Crystal Hotel) | March 19th, 3.45pm-5.15pm |
| Dublin West Education Centre | March 20th, 3.45pm-5.15pm |
| Waterford Teachers’ Centre | March 21st, 3.45pm-5.15pm |
| Sligo Education Centre | April 9th, 3.45pm-5.15pm |
| Cork Education Centre | April 10th, 3.45pm-5.15pm |
| Galway Education Centre (through Irish) | April 16th, 3.45-5.15pm |
During these in-person focus groups, people shared their views on the draft primary curriculum specifications.
Online focus groups
NCCA also facilitated online focus group meetings specific to each draft curriculum specification.
| Modern Foreign Languages in the Primary Language Curriculum | April 17th, 7pm-8pm |
| Arts Education (Art, Music, Drama) | April 18th, 7pm-8pm |
| Wellbeing (PE and SPHE) | April 23rd, 7pm-8pm |
| Social and Environmental Education (History and Geography) | April 24th, 7pm-8pm |
| Science, Technology and Engineering Education | April 25th, 7pm-8pm |
Focus group for parents
| Online focus group for parents on the new draft curriculum | May 7th, 7pm-8pm |