A draft RE syllabus for Northern Ireland schools could be phased in from September 2028 at the earliest, the Stormont Education Committee has been told.

The syllabus is being revised following a UK Supreme Court ruling in November 2025 that found a pupil's rights under the European Convention on Human Rights had been breached because RE teaching was not objective, critical and pluralistic.

Joyce Logue, former principal of Long Tower Primary School in Derry, is vice-chair of the review group appointed by Education Minister Paul Givan. She told MLAs that a consultation on the draft syllabus had generated 789 responses.

The drafting group will reconvene to consider those responses before a final syllabus is submitted to the Department. Mrs Logue said the group was proud of the draft and that its aim was to enable pupils to learn about and critically engage with their own and others' beliefs.

Feargal Friel, acting principal of Hollybush Primary School in Culmore, is a member of the expert drafting group. He said there had been less opposition than anticipated because the changes were largely additive rather than removing existing content.

Mr Friel said teachers had asked for guidance, schemes, sample lesson plans and training rather than a blank page. He also noted pressure on resources, as the thematic approach would require new materials and publishers would become involved over time.

Professor Noel Purdy, chair of the review, indicated the new syllabus would be phased in from September 2028 at the earliest once approved.

DUP MLA Julie Middleton, a former RE teacher, said the subject allows a broad range of opinions and pupils should feel safe to discuss moral and ethical issues in the classroom.

The revision was commissioned after the Supreme Court judgment on RE and collective worship. The draft syllabus sets out content, structure and progression from Foundation Stage, organised through key subject areas.