The Women’s Resource and Development Agency welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Northern Ireland Curriculum Framework 2028 Consultation.
24 September 2026 - There is an acknowledged need to update and renew the 2007 Northern Ireland curriculum and the WRDA welcome the Departments in depth work in this regard. The aims and objectives set a clear path that focuses on the capabilities of each child and creating an environment that can foster their intellectual, social and emotional development.
The WRDA has the following concerns:
a “knowledge-rich” curriculum could make the curriculum too content-heavy and add to teacher workload and potentially disadvantage pupils with different learning styles
Important curriculum areas are not included in the Framework, including Religious Education and SEN provision
The WRDA strongly supports teachers’ concerns about the new Framework and the need to consider the very significant workload pressures already facing schools
The proposals lack provision for comprehensive RSE, instead including RSE as an element in an overly broad Personal, Social, Civic and Careers curriculum
You can read the full response here.
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Contact
Elaine Crory
Women’s Sector Lobbyist