From 2026-2027, schools will gradually introduce a new primary school curriculum. 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. It links with Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and connects with the Framework for Junior Cycle supporting continuity of experiences for children from early childhood through primary school and into their post-primary education. The framework sets out the vision, principles, key competencies, structure, approaches to learning, teaching and assessment, and time allocations for the redeveloped curriculum.
Over a period of six years, the existing curriculum areas (outlined above) will be replaced by:
- Arts education: Broadens creative learning through music, drama, and visual arts.
- Language: Continues a strong focus on English and Irish while introducing ModernForeign Languages (MFL) starting from third class.
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM): Enhances curious investigation, digital literacy, and creative problem-solving.
- Social and Environmental Education: Connects geography, history, and science concepts.
- Wellbeing: Focuses on physical, social, and emotional health, including age-appropriate lessons on consent, puberty, and relationships
From September 2026, schools must introduce at least one new curriculum area each year. They can choose the order, but ‘Wellbeing’ must be one of the first 3 areas introduced.Schools can also choose to pause introducing new areas for a year from 2028-2029 to focus on changes they’ve already made.