TransformED School Development Day - Resource Pack (25 September 2026)

About this guide series

The Northern Ireland Curriculum is undergoing significant reform as part of the Department of Education's TransformED programme. The proposed Northern Ireland Curriculum 2028 aims to provide every learner with a clear entitlement to a knowledge-rich, coherent and ambitious curriculum that promotes both excellence and equity. 

This series of short guides has been developed to support school leaders and teachers as they explore the proposed reforms. While the guides are not a substitute for the official consultation documents, they are intended to provide accessible summaries, additional context and opportunities for professional reflection. They are designed to support informed discussion about the rationale for reform and the potential implications for curriculum planning, teaching and learning.

The guides can also inform discussions as individual teachers respond to the public consultation (closing 30 September 2026).  The consultation seeks views on the curriculum aim and objectives, the Capabilities and the draft subject frameworks. The Department of Education is keen to hear from a wide range of stakeholders, and schools are encouraged to engage actively with the consultation process to help shape the final curriculum. 

Further to the consultation, the guides may be used in a variety of ways, including staff meetings, departmental discussions, TransformED Development Days, professional learning activities and school improvement planning. Schools may choose to work through the series in sequence or select individual guides that are most relevant to their current priorities.

Using the guides

Each guide focuses on a key aspect of curriculum reform and is designed to stimulate professional dialogue and reflection. The guides include:

•           an overview of the topic and its significance within the reform programme;

•           key information drawn from the consultation materials;

•           discussion questions to support staff engagement and reflection; and

•           a key message summarising the main points for consideration.

Supporting meaningful consultation engagement

Curriculum reform represents a significant opportunity to shape the future of education in Northern Ireland. Meaningful engagement with the consultation involves more than responding to a set of questions. It requires consideration of the evidence informing the proposals, reflection on the needs of learners and discussion about how the proposed curriculum may be implemented within different school contexts. 

These guides are intended to support that process by encouraging informed professional discussion. They provide opportunities for staff to explore the principles underpinning the reforms, consider potential benefits and challenges, and reflect on what the proposed changes may mean for their school community.

A shared opportunity

The consultation period provides an important opportunity for schools to contribute to the development of a curriculum that will shape teaching and learning for many years to come. Through professional dialogue, critical reflection and active participation in the consultation process, schools can play a valuable role in helping to ensure that the Northern Ireland Curriculum 2028 reflects the needs and aspirations of learners across Northern Ireland.

Themes

Part 1: Understanding the proposed changes to the curriculum

Topic	Useful Links
What is curriculum?	Guide 1 Video
Why is the curriculum changing?	Guide 2 Video
The aim and objectives of the new curriculum	Guide 3 Video
Principles of the new curriculum	Guide 4 Video

Part 2: Understanding the proposed curriculum

Topic	Useful Links
What is a knowledge-rich curriculum?	Guide 5 Video
Understanding the structure of the new curriculum	Guide 6 Video

Part 3: Reviewing the subject frameworks

Topic	Useful Links
In groups, select subject frameworks to review. You might like to choose one to review as a whole-school, or you might like to split up into smaller groups to review different subjects	Subject Frameworks and Key Stage Documents

Part 4: Understanding the capabilities

Topic	Useful Links
The capabilities	Guide 7 Video Capabilities

Part 5: Planning ahead

Topic	Useful Links
Implementation and support	Guide 8 Video

Part 6: Responding to the consultation

Topic	Useful Links
We value the feedback from all school leaders and teachers on the curriculum consultation which closes on 30 September	Northern Ireland Curriculum Consultation

Part 7: Frequently Asked Questions

Topic	Useful Links
Frequently Asked Questions	FAQ's