Responding to the issue of curriculum overload
A strong message came from teachers and principal teachers during two phases of review of the Primary School Curriculum (1999) that they did not have enough time to 'teach it all.' The two factors that teachers cited were the size of the curriculum and the range of individual learning needs represented by children in their classes. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has begun to respond to the challenge.
During the current (2009/2010) school year we are working with teachers to explore different formats for re-presenting curriculum subjects. We have also explored the issue of curriculum overload in primary schools, both nationally and internationally. In exploring practical measures to reduce curriculum overload in our primary schools, we will be having curriculum conversations with groups of teachers and education partners in the coming months.
Curriculum re-presentation materials
We are looking at re-presenting the curriculum content objectives, in an attempt to make the content in the 11 curriculum books more accessible and user-friendly.
The most recent materials are a revised version of the Curriculum Overview Wallchart (below), bridging documents for Mathematics and content objective cards for Science.
The bridging documents for Mathematics are designed to give an overview of the content objectives in each strand and strand unit for Mathematics in 5th and 6th classes in primary schools and to illustrate how the strands and strand units are continued at Junior Cycle in post-primary schools.
Bridging Documents for Mathematics, 5th and 6th classes (PDF, 136 KB)
The Science content objective cards are, following teachers' feedback, broken up into Junior Infants-Second class and Third class-Sixth class.
NCCA Science Cards, Junior Infants-Second class (PDF, 80 KB)
NCCA Science cards, Third Class-Sixth class (PDF, 100 KB)
NCCA skills cards for Mathematics, all classes (PDF, 120 KB)
Initially we used the ‘glance cards’ and 'skills cards' developed by the Primary Professional Development Service (PPDS) for Science, Maths, Gaeilge and English. Click the links below to download the PPDS glance cards and skills cards:
PPDS 'glance cards' for English (PDF, 140 KB)
PPDS 'glance cards' for Gaeilge (PDF, 120 KB)
PPDS 'glance cards' for Science (PDF, 100 KB)
PPDS 'skills cards' for Science (PDF, 87.1 KB)
PPDS 'glance cards' for Mathematics (PDF, 140 KB)
The PPDS 'glance cards' above, as well as cards for the other subjects, are also available for download at the PPDS website in the curriculum planning section.
Curriculum Overview Wall-Chart
A draft of this wall-chart was created by the School Development Planning Support (Primary) as a teacher-friendly overview of the strands and strand units in the curriculum. The five pages should be printed in colour and joined along the vertical edges to create the wall-chart.
The wall-chart uses the same colour coding for each class level as that used in the Primary School Curriculum (1999). The colours are used to show the class level entry point of content on the curriculum.
This is best explained with an example. Lines and angles is listed as a strand unit under the Shape and Space strand in mathematics. Lines is shown in blue as this content appears for the first time in the mathematics curriculum at the Third and Fourth class level. Angles is shown in plum as this content appears for the first time in the mathematics curriculum at the First and Second class level. It is important to note that this content will continue to be developed further in subsequent classes.
Black indicates content that applies to all class levels. Unlike the colour coded content, the introduction of this content is not linked to a specific class level.
Download the Curriculum Overview Wall-Chart here. (PDF, 65KB)
We are asking teachers, post-holders and principal teachers to use the materials both in their school and class planning and to give us feedback. We hope to continue to develop the materials to meet teachers’ needs based on their feedback.
Curriculum overload in primary schools: Teachers' voices, Phases 1 & 2
One hundred and twenty-five teachers from a range of different school types and sizes from various parts of the country used these materials in their schools and classrooms in the period from October-December 2009. They told us of their experiences through two on-line surveys and they gave us their views on how the materials might be further developed. They also gave us their personal insights on the issue of curriculum overload. Read what they told us.
Curriculum overload in primary schools: Teachers' voices Phases 1 & 2 (PDF, 398 KB)
Curriculum overload in primary schools: An overview of national and international experiences
This overview has been developed to help us understand the curriculum overload issue in order to respond effectively to it. The paper begins by defining overload and then focuses on our experience in Ireland where teachers have reported acutely experiencing the overload issue and where we've seen a proliferation of policy and legislation governing children's primary education, in recent years. Key factors contributing to the overload issue in primary schools are discussed. International experiences of curriculum overload are described and different responses to the overload issue which may be relevant to Council's work in reviewing and improving the Primary School Curriculum (1999) are highlighted. The last section explores the relevance of the overload issue for children themselves and the world they live in today.
Curriculum overload in Primary Schools: An overview of national and international experiences (PDF, 396 KB)
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us at curriculumoverload@ncca.ie.