Curriculum and learning
Information to support the delivery of the curriculum in schools, raising standards and school improvement
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Raising standards and school improvement
Curriculum and 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
On 21 October 2024, the Minister of Education, Paul Givan MLA set out his response to the Report of the Independent Panel’s review of education in Northern Ireland.
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.