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English

Junior Cycle English focuses on improving students’ communication skills, creativity and appreciation of literary, digital and visual texts through the three inter-connected strands of oral language, reading and writing.

English

Development of a new specification for Leaving Certificate English has commenced.

English as an Additional Language in Post-Primary Schools

These EAL materials are designed to support teachers to independently and collaboratively support students with EAL requirements. The materials linked are from NCCA and various government agencies, as well as external websites.

English as an Additional Language for Post-Primary Schools

These EAL materials are designed to support teachers to independently and collaboratively support students with EAL requirements. The materials linked are from NCCA and various government agencies, as well as external websites.

Language

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Sign Language in the Mainstream Curriculum

The Irish Sign language Act 2017 officially recognised Irish Sign Language (ISL) as a native and independent minority language. In November 2022 the Ministers for Education and for Special Education announced the first phase of implementation of t...

Sign Language in the Mainstream Curriculum

This research report provides information on curriculum provision for sign language in six international jurisdictions.

Research Reports on English literature and prescribed text lists

Two papers in the area of Junior and Senior Cycle English have recently been published. The first paper, entitled Comparative study of literature in English curricula across jurisdictions was authored by leading researcher, Dr. Bethan Marshall, on...

Chinese Language and Culture Short Course

The Early Enactment Report for Chinese Language and Culture short course is now available

New text lists available for Leaving Certificate English, Spanish and Italian

The new text lists for Leaving Certificate English, Spanish and Italian are now available online. The Department of Education has published these in circulars (linked below).    Text lists are generated by working groups convened by NCCA and are p...

Primary Language Development Group

Leaving Certificate English Development Group

Scoilnet.ie – Cultural and linguistic support for schools

NCCA has been working with the Department of Education and a range of other agencies to contribute to a central repository of cultural and linguistic supports for schools. This initiative was established as part of a response to welcome and suppor...

Staff Spotlight: Meet the Faces Behind Ireland’s Curriculum Developments

Dr Derek Grant, Director Curriculum and Assessment     In 2016 I joined the ranks of NCCA as an Education Officer seconded from my school in rural Cavan to work on the Primary Curriculum Review and Redevelopment.  My initial brief was to work on t...

Have your say on the Draft Primary Curriculum Specifications

As part of the redevelopment of the Primary School Curriculum, NCCA is now consulting on five Draft Primary Curriculum Specifications in Arts Education; Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) in the Primary Language Curriculum; Social and Environmental Ed...

Tranche 2 BGD Paper Consultations

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is consulting on the Background Paper and Brief for Tranche 2 subjects. The consultation runs from the 8 April 2024 until the 17 May 2024. The purpose of the consultation is to gather feedb...

Modern Foreign Languages

The study of Modern Foreign Languages (French, German, Spanish, Italian) aims to develop students’ communicative language skills and to explore the interdependence between language and culture enabling students to derive enjoyment from language le...

Tranche 2 Consultations

for Accounting, Construction Studies, Engineering, English, Geography, LCVP Link Modules and Leaving Certificate Physical Education

Early insights reviews of Junior Cycle subjects and short courses

Visual Art and Modern Foreign Languages NCCA conducted an early insights review of Visual Art and Modern Foreign Languages in the Junior Cycle Curriculum in the spring term of 2023. The review process entailed consultations with students, teachers...

Primary Focus Groups

Consultation on 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 Wellbe...

Consultation on Primary Curriculum

As part of the redevelopment of the Primary School Curriculum, NCCA will be consulting on the Draft Primary Curriculum Specifications in Arts Education; Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) in the Primary Language Curriculum; Social and Environmental Ed...

Five Draft Primary Curriculum Specifications

Published in March 2023, the Primary Curriculum Framework forms an important basis for the redevelopment of the Primary School Curriculum. It sets out the vision, principles, key competencies, and curriculum structure, all of which support high-qu...

Mo Scéal: Supporting the transition to primary school

Moving to primary school is an important part of every child’s life and there is a lot that we can do to support them and their families with this part of growing up. Mo Scéal reporting templates facilitate the sharing of information on children’s...

Senior Cycle Redevelopment - Tranche Two Subjects

The subjects scheduled for redevelopment as part of the second phase of subject reviews are known as Tranche 2. They are as follows: o   Accounting o   Construction Studies o   Engineering o   English o   Geography o   LCVP Link Modules  o   Phy...

Preparation for Teaching and Learning

Since the launch of the Primary Language Curriculum, teachers and school leaders have naturally been asking how this change in curriculum impacts classroom planning in their schools. To support teachers and school leaders, guidance has been develo...

Consultation opens on Primary Curriculum

Consultation on 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 Wellbe...

Traveller Culture and History Research Paper

The Traveller culture and history research report was developed to provide an overview of what is currently known, understood and has been recorded regarding various aspects of Traveller culture and history. It does not set out to cover every aspe...

Consultation with babies, toddlers and young children

Phase 1 of NCCA’s work to update Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework included a consultation with babies, toddlers and young children. This consultation was both innovative and ground-breaking in its design and in terms of respecting...

The Primary Curriculum Framework

The Primary Curriculum Framework is for all primary and special schools and will guide the work of teachers and school leaders as they enhance learning, teaching, and assessment for all children from junior infants to sixth class. The framework se...

Early Enactment Review of Junior Cycle Irish T1 and T2

NCCA recently published a report on the early enactment review of Junior Cycle Irish T1 and T2. This review was conducted by SEALBHÚ (DCU) on behalf of the Council. The report was accompanied by a note detailing immediate next steps for Junior Cyc...

Redeveloping the Primary School Curriculum - Update on Development Groups

The launch of the Primary Curriculum Framework by the Minister for Education in March 2023, heralded the redevelopment of the Primary School Curriculum in the years ahead. To support this work five Development Groups have been established with eac...

Consultation Report on the draft L1 and L2 specifications for Leaving Certificate Irish

The Consultation Report on Draft Specifications for Leaving Certificate Irish T1 and T2 records and responds to the views of stakeholders gathered during the consultation in 2021. It considers, in detail, the feedback received on the draft specifi...

PMC Toolkit: New suite of Strand Unit supports

NCCA has updated the Primary Mathematics Toolkit to include a suite of Support Materials for each of the Strand Units of the Primary Mathematics Curriculum.  Suggestions for children’s learning contain ideas and suggestions for teachers to p...

Last chance to have your say

As part of the redevelopment of the Primary School Curriculum, NCCA is running a public consultation on five Draft Primary Curriculum Specifications in Arts Education; Modern Foreign Languages in the Primary Language Curriculum; Social and Environ...

Meet the Faces Behind Ireland’s Curriculum Developments

Mary Daly, Education Officer Mary lives in Co Tipperary, nestled between the Galtee and the Knockmealdown mountains. Mary is part of the Early Childhood Team in NCCA where, along with her colleagues, she has championed early childhood education fo...