The Primary Curriculum Framework (PCF) was introduced in 2023 by the Department of Education. It replaces the 1999 Primary School Curriculum and provides the national plan for teaching and learning in all primary and special schools in Ireland.
The PCF sets out a clear vision for children’s learning from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. It focuses on building key skills and competencies that will support children throughout their lives, alongside strong foundations in areas such as language, mathematics, wellbeing, the arts, STEM, and social and environmental education.
A central feature of the framework is recognising every child as unique, with their own strengths, interests, and ways of learning. The PCF aims to ensure that the curriculum reflects this diversity and supports children to grow, learn, and thrive in a modern world.
What this means for your child
- A new curriculum designed to prepare children for life in today’s world and jobs which haven’t been created yet.
- Strong foundations in language, STEM, wellbeing, the arts and social and environmental education.
- Opportunities to develop key competencies such as being well, being a digital learner, being mathematical, being a communicator and using language, being creative, being an active learner, being an active citizen.
