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The Revised Curriculum for four to 11 year olds

Your child will study a wide range of subjects during their time at primary school and develop the skills they need for life and work. Knowing about the Revised Curriculum can help you to support your child's learning.

Revised Curriculum: Areas of Learning

The Revised Curriculum introduced from 2007, is made up of blocks of years known as key stages:

  • Year 1 and Year 2 of primary school are known as Foundation Stage
  • Years 3 and 4 of primary school are known as Key Stage 1
  • Years 5, 6, 7 of Primary school are known as Key Stage 2

The curriculum areas of learning at primary school are:

  • Language & Literacy
  • Mathematics & Numeracy
  • The Arts
  • The World Around Us
  • Personal Development & Mutual Understanding
  • Physical Education.

Through each area of learning, children develop the skills - called Cross-Curricular Skills and Other Skills - that they need for life and work.

Cross-Curricular Skills Other Skills
Communication Being Creative
Using Mathematics Working with Others
Using ICT Self Management
Managing Information
Thinking, Problem-Solving and Decision Making

Schools also have to teach religious education following the core syllabus set by the Department of Education. Parents have the right to withdraw children from all or part of religious education. Some schools also teach a modern language.

Some schools may call the areas of learning by different names or teach topics that cut across more than one area.

Guides for parents on the curriculum

The Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) have produced two booklets for parents of primary and post-primary children on the curriculum and what to expect when their child starts school. The booklets can be downloaded below.

Count, read: succeed - A Strategy to Improve Outcomes in Literacy and Numeracy

Every child needs to develop good literacy and numeracy skills to enable them to do well in education, to get a good job and to carry out a range of everyday activities for example shopping, surfing the internet, reading safety instructions.  

Work to improve literacy and numeracy standards in our schools is a top priority. All our schools are working to improve the standards achieved by their pupils.  

The school curriculum and assessment arrangements have a focus on literacy and numeracy. More support is being provided, especially in the early years and for those with additional or special educational needs.

‘Count, read: succeed’ is the Department of Education's new Strategy to Improve Outcomes in Literacy and Numeracy. It sets out how teachers, parents and school leaders will be supported in their vitally important work to raise standards in literacy and numeracy and to narrow the gaps in achievement that exist.  

The strategy applies to all schools, with additional elements included to reflect the specific needs of Irish-medium schools.

The strategy focuses on high-quality teaching for every child, with increasing support to meet any needs a child may have, for example, if they are having difficulties in literacy and numeracy.

A key message of ‘Count, read: succeed’ is the importance of good relationships and partnership working between teachers, pupils and parents. Parents are encouraged to have high expectations for their child, and be actively engaged in encouraging their learning.

Developing literacy skills

Literacy is the ability to read and use written information and to write appropriately for a range of different purposes. It is vital to learning across all areas of the curriculum and to daily life and social interaction.

Developing numeracy skills

Numeracy is applying appropriate mathematical skills to everyday and unfamiliar situations. It includes personal finance skills, thinking mathematically in everyday situations and applying reasoning and problem-solving skills.

It underpins science and technology and is vital to success in the 'knowledge economy'.

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