A public consultation on a new Northern Ireland Curriculum has been launched, marking a key milestone in the TransformED programme and inviting feedback over a 16-week period. It will close on 30 September 2026.

Education Minister Paul Givan said the proposed curriculum sets out clearly what children should learn and when, from Year 1 in the Foundation Stage through to Year 10 in Key Stage 3. He described it as an engine of equity, placing knowledge at its heart and ensuring every child has access to the same high-quality education regardless of their school.

The existing curriculum, introduced in 2007, was reviewed in 2025 and found to lack clarity, coherence and specificity. That review concluded it had led to discrepancies between schools, heavier teacher workloads and uneven pupil progress, and recommended a more structured framework to deliver a shared entitlement for all.

Development of the new curriculum involved over 100 teachers, academics and international experts, led by Dr Christine Counsell with support from Lucy Crehan. Givan stressed it had been shaped by practitioners from across Northern Ireland to ensure it works in real classrooms.

The minister called the consultation a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a world-leading curriculum that raises aspirations and strengthens outcomes. Feedback is invited from teachers, parents, pupils and wider stakeholders via the Department of Education website.