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English

Junior Cycle English focuses on improving students’ communication skills, creativity and appreciation of literary, digital and visual texts through the three inter-connected strands of oral language, reading and writing.

English

Development of a new specification for Leaving Certificate English has commenced.

English as an Additional Language in Post-Primary Schools

These EAL materials are designed to support teachers to independently and collaboratively support students with EAL requirements. The materials linked are from NCCA and various government agencies, as well as external websites.

English as an Additional Language for Post-Primary Schools

These EAL materials are designed to support teachers to independently and collaboratively support students with EAL requirements. The materials linked are from NCCA and various government agencies, as well as external websites.

Language

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Sign Language in the Mainstream Curriculum

The Irish Sign language Act 2017 officially recognised Irish Sign Language (ISL) as a native and independent minority language. In November 2022 the Ministers for Education and for Special Education announced the first phase of implementation of t...

Sign Language in the Mainstream Curriculum

This research report provides information on curriculum provision for sign language in six international jurisdictions.

Research Reports on English literature and prescribed text lists

Two papers in the area of Junior and Senior Cycle English have recently been published. The first paper, entitled Comparative study of literature in English curricula across jurisdictions was authored by leading researcher, Dr. Bethan Marshall, on...

Chinese Language and Culture Short Course

The Early Enactment Report for Chinese Language and Culture short course is now available

New text lists available for Leaving Certificate English, Spanish and Italian

The new text lists for Leaving Certificate English, Spanish and Italian are now available online. The Department of Education has published these in circulars (linked below).    Text lists are generated by working groups convened by NCCA and are p...

Primary Language Development Group

Leaving Certificate English Development Group

Junior Cycle English - Mother and Baby homes

PLC / CTB Toolkit: Updated Suite Of Supports

The Primary Language Toolkit includes Video Examples of Children's Language Learning, the Progression Continua and Support Materials outlining key pedagogical approaches. Agus Seachtain na Gaeilge ag teannadh linn, you may wish to have a look the...

Scoilnet.ie – Cultural and linguistic support for schools

NCCA has been working with the Department of Education and a range of other agencies to contribute to a central repository of cultural and linguistic supports for schools. This initiative was established as part of a response to welcome and suppor...

Aistear Blog 3

The purpose of the updated Aistear curriculum framework is to support babies, toddlers and young children’s learning and development. In this blog, we look at how Aistear promotes the cultural and linguistic identity of all babies, toddlers and yo...

Revised JC MFL specification published

A revised specification for Junior Cycle Modern Foreign Languages (JC MFL) (French, German, Italian, Spanish) will be introduced in schools for incoming 1st year students in September 2026. In line with the Framework for Junior Cycle (2015), a new...

Consultations Open For 7 Leaving Certificate Subjects In Tranche Two

In Tranche 2 of the subject reviews, seven Leaving Certificate subjects have been redeveloped and consultations are now open. Consultations on the draft specifications for seven Leaving Certificate subjects are now open. When the consultations hav...

Aistear Blog 8

This blog looks at emergent literacy in the updated Aistear curriculum framework (2024). In early childhood, literacy involves the development of communication and language(s), as well as the exploration and development of skills, concepts, knowle...

Staff Spotlight: Meet the Faces Behind Ireland’s Curriculum Developments

Dr Derek Grant, Director Curriculum and Assessment     In 2016 I joined the ranks of NCCA as an Education Officer seconded from my school in rural Cavan to work on the Primary Curriculum Review and Redevelopment.  My initial brief was to work on t...