Givan: Help shape Northern Ireland's future curriculum

Date published: 15 September 2025

Inviting applications from experienced educators both within schools and Further and Higher Education Institutes, Paul Givan said: 

“At the heart of our curriculum reform is the voice of teachers. Their classroom expertise, insight and professional judgement will ensure that the new curriculum is not only academically ambitious but also practically deliverable.

“This is an exciting opportunity to be involved and I encourage educators from across all sectors and stages of education to apply to join this important work and help shape the future of education in Northern Ireland.”

The working groups will:

• Draft curriculum content for specific subjects and key stages.
• Help shape an ambitious and knowledge-rich curriculum that is grounded in classroom experience, capable of responding to the diverse needs of learners, schools and communities.
• Collaborate with experts to ensure the new curriculum is structured to be continuous and coherent.

Paul Givan continued: 

“My goal is clear: to give every child in Northern Ireland access to a curriculum that fosters deep understanding, gives them the ability to engage with complex ideas and, ultimately, empowers them to succeed.    

“Curriculum is the bedrock of our education system as it sets the foundation for what our pupils learn, when they learn it and how they learn it. It outlines the knowledge that pupils are expected to acquire at each stage of their education, ensures consistency across classrooms and provides a clear learning progression from one year to the next.

“Through this reform, we are investing in the future of our young people, our economy and our society.”

Working groups will be established in October 2025 and carry out their work between November to February, with the full framework scheduled for consultation in March 2026.