The NCCA has checked in with the Primary School Curriculum at various points since 1999 and has engaged with schools and other stakeholders to determine what a new primary curriculum should look like and do for children’s learning and development.
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Curriculum Reviews
The NCCA initiated two reviews of the Primary School Curriculum. The first phase of review focused on the experiences of principals, teachers, parents and children with English; Visual Arts; and Mathematics. Published in 2005, you will find the report here.
The second phase of review focused on the experiences of principals, teachers, parents and children with Irish / Gaeilge; Science; and Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE). Published in 2008, you will find the report here.
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Curriculum Consultations
Curriculum Priorities
A public invitation to ‘have your say’ about curriculum priorities for primary education was published online in April, 2011. A total of 960 responses were received which identified six priorities for primary education, read the report here.
Consultation on Structure and Time
In December 2016, the NCCA published two sets of proposals about how the primary curriculum might be structured differently and how time might be used across the curriculum. January to June 2017 saw an extensive consultation on the proposals. The consultation report provides a detailed overview of the entire consultation process.
- Read our consultation proposals for structure and time in the primary curriculum here
- Download the Executive Summary here
- The Final Report is available here
- The Executive Summary of the final report is available here
- Written Submissions Consultation on Curriculum Structure and Time
Other Curriculum Consultations
- Primary Coding Final Report on the Coding in Primary Schools Initiative
- Consultation Report on the Primary Mathematics Curriculum for junior infants to second class
- Consultation on the proposals for a curriculum in Education about Religions and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics: Final Report
- Consultation on the Draft Primary Language Curriculum Third to Sixth Class
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Consultation with Parents and Children
Consultation with Parents
The voices of parents make an important contribution to the review and redevelopment of the primary curriculum. During 2018, the NCCA held twenty focus group sessions with parents of children attending primary school. Read the report here.
Consultation with Children
The voices of children also play an important role in the review and redevelopment of the primary curriculum. Read the report here which provides a brief synopsis of consultation processes in which the NCCA included the voices of children in respect of curriculum developments at primary level.