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  • Curriculum and learning

    Information to support the delivery of the curriculum in schools, raising standards and school improvement

    contents

    Raising standards and school improvement

    • Delivering Social Change - Literacy & Numeracy Signature Programme
    • Compendium of School Evaluation Case Studies in Northern Ireland
    • Every School a Good School (ESaGS)

    Curriculum and assessment

    • An introduction to curriculum and assessment
    • Statutory curriculum
    • Assessment

    Review of the Northern Ireland Curriculum

    On 21 October 2024, the Minister of Education announced that he was commissioning a strategic review of the Northern Ireland Curriculum.

    School Starting Age

    The School Age (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 allows the parents/ guardians of Young for Year children to defer the start of pre-school and, in turn, primary school for their child for one year.

    YOUNG PEOPLE’S REFERENCE GROUP (YPRG) - January 2025

    The Young Person’s Reference Group (YPRG) have planned and delivered 60 different consultation sessions to date in a wide range of settings with children and young people through Northern Ireland, consulting with 600+ individuals. The Young Person’s Reference group are finalising the information they have gathered and putting this into recommendations to be considered for the future youth work policy. Additionally, the Young Persons Reference Group are working on using the lived experience and voice of children and young people, to inform what the vision, purpose and role of youth work should be going forward.

    16-18 Legislation

    14 April 2025

    The Education Minister, Paul Givan MLA today launched a consultation on legislation which will provide for all learners to participate in education, apprenticeship or training until age 18.

    Outdoor Learning Project

    At the start of February 2025, Education Minister Paul Givan officially launched the Outdoor Learning Project to enhance pupil experiences of outdoor learning.

    Full service programmes

    Some children and young people, especially those living in disadvantaged communities, can face a number of issues or 'barriers to learning' which can lead to them doing less well at school. In order to overcome such barriers those children and their families often need additional support. The 'full service' approach seeks to provide such support.

    YOUNG PEOPLE’S REFERENCE GROUP (YPRG) - April 2025

    Pre-consultation workshops initially took place in youth centres with young people under sixteen, to get their input into the consultation design.

    Related to Curriculum and learning

    Most recent publications

    • Equality and Human Rights Policy Screening for Strengthening Inspection Legislation for Schools and Other Education and Training Establishments

      Published 8 May 2025
    • RAISE Locality Led Projects

      Published 2 May 2025
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent consultations

    • Consultation on 16-18 Legislation

      Published 14 April 2025 Closes 04 July 2025
    • Vision 2030 - A Strategy for Integrated Education

      Published 27 March 2025 Closes 23 May 2025
    See all consultations in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • Education Minister attends International Summit of the Teaching Profession in Iceland

      Published 27 March 2025
    • Givan launches new strategy for education excellence in Northern Ireland

      Published 11 March 2025
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department of Education including Freedom of Information (FOI) and the use of our Publication Scheme. The Department publishes responses to requests for information made under FOI in its Disclosure Log

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