Curriculum in primary schools
- What is the primary school curriculum?
- What do children learn at school?
- Assessing your child’s learning in school
- More information
What is the primary school curriculum?
The curriculum sets out the subjects children study in school.
It sets out what your child is taught and how their learning is assessed in each subject.
Ireland's primary school curriculum is set by the Minister for Education and Youth, who is advised by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).
What do children learn at school?
The primary school curriculum consists of 7 curricular areas. Some areas are further divided into subjects. The 7 areas are:
- Language: Gaeilge (pdf), English (pdf)
- Mathematics: Mathematics
- Social, Environmental and Scientific Education: History (pdf), Geography (pdf), Science (pdf)
- Arts Education: Music (pdf), Visual Arts (pdf), Drama (pdf)
- Physical Education: Physical Education (pdf)
- Social Personal and Health Education: Social, Personal and Health Education (pdf)
- Religious Education is the responsibility of the school patron
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has information for parents about the curriculum. It also gives advice on how to support your child's learning at school and at home.
Upcoming changes to the primary school curriculum
From 2026-2027, schools will gradually introduce a new primary school curriculum. Over a period of six years, the existing curriculum areas (outlined above) will be replaced by:
Assessing your child’s learning in school
An assessment gathers information about how your child learns and what they learn. The assessment can show how your child is progressing and developing.
Schools must regularly evaluate students and report the results of the evaluation to students and their parents.
How your child is assessed
Primary schools use a variety of tests and other methods to assess your child's learning and achievements.
All Irish primary schools must carry out three standardised tests of students in English and Mathematics during primary school.
Children are tested:
- At the end of first class, or at the beginning of second class
- At the end of fourth class
- At the beginning of sixth class
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment published Assessment in the Primary School Curriculum: Guidelines for Schools (pdf). You can also read explanatory leaflets for parents about the standardised tests.
Students will not be tested in special schools, if the school principal considers that a student’s disability prevents them from attempting the test.
More information
Learn more about the primary school curriculum on the Department of Education and Youth’s Curriculum Online portal.
You can also get detailed information about changes to the curriculum in Circular 67/2025 (pdf).