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44 results

  • Pre-school Admissions Consultation: Socially Disadvantaged Circumstances (SDC) Criterion

    The Department of Education is seeking views on the options available to the Department on any future prioritisation of children from socially disadvantaged circumstances (SDC). Responses from stakeholders and interested parties will be analysed and inform the way forward, including additional guidance for pre-school settings in choosing and drafting admission criteria . A report will be prepared summarising the findings. More
    Opened 7 September 2026

  • Public Consultation on Measures to Support Mobile Phone-Free Schools in Northern Ireland

    The Department of Education is seeking views on whether additional measures are required to support schools and EOTAS settings in creating and maintaining mobile phone-free environments during the school day. In particular, this consultation seeks views on whether legislation should be introduced to restrict or prohibit pupil use of mobile phones and smartphones during the school day, and if so, how any such measures should operate in practice. The consultation... More
    Opened 27 August 2026

  • Leading Together for Excellence: A TransformED NI Strategy for Teacher Professional Learning

    The Department of Education is seeking views on Leading Together for Excellence: A TransformED NI Strategy for Teacher Professional Learning. This strategy sets out a long‑term, system‑wide approach to strengthening teacher professional learning as a central driver of educational excellence in Northern Ireland. The strategy is grounded in strong international evidence that no education system can exceed the quality of its teachers, and that high‑quality professional... More
    Closed 6 July 2026

  • Special Schools Curriculum Working Group - Expressions of Interest

    The Department of Education is inviting expressions of interest from Special Educational Needs practitioners to be a part of the Special Schools Curriculum Working group. The Working Group will lead the development and drafting of a bespoke curriculum strand for pupils with moderate, severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties within a special school context, ensuring that the curriculum is informed by robust research evidence, specialist professional expertise and the... More
    Closed 3 July 2026

  • Curriculum Reform - Practitioner working groups for IM schools/ Athchóiriú ar an churaclam - grúpaí oibre do na Gaelscoileanna

    The Department of Education is inviting expressions of interest from Irish-medium Education practitioners to be a part of the Subject Working Groups to design the new bespoke curriculum strands for Irish-medium schools. Subject specific working groups will be responsible for developing and drafting the relevant content, linked to specific curricular strands. At this stage, there will be five working groups; Irish (as a subject) ... More
    Closed 3 July 2026

  • Consultation on the Religious Education Core Syllabus

    A consultation on the draft Religious Education (RE) Core Syllabus is underway, led by the RE Drafting Group, under the chairmanship of Professor Noel Purdy. The consultation is housed on the Department of Education website and facilitated by a DE secretariat function. The draft RE syllabus and covering report is available on the DE website. Please read these documents before responding to this consultation. Consulation on the Review of the RE Core Syllabus ... More
    Opened 1 July 2026

  • Major Event Order for the Fleadh Cheoil Na Héireann ‘The ‘Fleadh’ 2026

    Belfast City Council (BCC) has applied to the Department to make a ‘major event order’ (MEO) in respect of the Fleadh, taking place in Belfast between 2 and 9 August 2026, for a core area within Belfast City Centre, as detailed in the map below. The Fleadh is a major, high profile cultural event, expected to attract around 800,000 visitors, with peak daily attendance of up to 120,000 people. It will run each day from 11:00am to 11:00pm. ... More
    Closed 24 June 2026

  • Liquor Licensing – Public Consultation on Market Diversity and Innovation

    The Department for Communities is conducting a public consultation on the effectiveness of the current liquor licensing arrangements in supporting market diversity and innovation. The Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (the Order) establishes the legislative framework governing the sale of alcohol across Northern Ireland. Under this framework, any person wishing to sell alcohol must hold an appropriate licence granted by the courts. Survey description... More
    Closed 23 June 2026

  • Northern Ireland Curriculum Consultation

    The Department of Education is consulting on a new statutory curriculum for Northern Ireland. The consultation is presented across a suite of documents, as follows: Overview paper: explains the background to reform, the need for curriculum reform and gives an overview of the structure of the new Northern Ireland Curriculum. Subject frameworks: set out the vision for each subject and the statutory content that will secure pupils’ progression in that subject. ... More
    Opened 16 June 2026

  • Stronger Futures - A Northern Ireland Youth Work Policy Statement

    The Department of Education (DE) invites you to take part in the public consultation for a revised youth policy statement: Stronger Futures – A Northern Ireland Youth Work Policy Statement. This revised policy statement is a result of an extensive review of youth policy, by the Department, children and young people and other key stakeholders, including the community and voluntary youth sector and the Education Authority. Following completion of the review... More
    Opened 10 June 2026

  • Restrictive Interventions: Guidance for Educational Settings

    A consultation has been launched on “Restrictive Interventions: Guidance for Educational Settings.” The Department of Education has opened a consultation seeking views on its Restrictive Interventions: Guidance for Educational Settings. Consultation Period The consultation will run from 12 March to 4 June 2026. The Department’s preferred method of response is online, using the link at the bottom of this page. ... More
    Closed 4 June 2026

  • Easter Revision Scheme - Data Capture & Evaluation Form

    Schools that provided an Easter Revision Scheme to support pupils preparing to sit external examinations in term three should complete this form to detail expenditure incurred and provide an evaluation of the impact of the scheme. More
    Closed 29 May 2026

  • Exploring the Relationship Between Work-Family Conflict and Wellbeing in Public Sector Carers

    Thank you for considering participating in this research project. This information page will explain what the research is about and what your participation would involve . It will help you to decide whether you want to take part and give informed consent. Please take time to read the following information carefully. Survey Purpose This research is being conducted by Lynne McAleer, Graduate Trainee Work Psychologist within the Department for Communities... More
    Closed 17 May 2026

  • TNIFF Grassroots Facilities Programme - Stream 2

    The Northern Ireland Football Fund (TNIFF) is a long-standing Executive commitment to invest in modernising our local footballing infrastructure. The Northern Ireland Football Fund will invest in three areas: • Performance Programme • Grassroots Facilities Programme • National Football Centre Grassroots Facility Programme Pilot Stage The Grassroots Facilities... More
    Closed 29 April 2026

  • Teacher Recruitment and Retention in Northern Ireland

    A survey carried out by the Department of Education in June 2024 helped to identify the key recruitment and retention challenges facing schools in Northern Ireland and confirmed that these were particularly acute for post-primary schools. To address this, the Department launched a pilot ITE Bursary Scheme. Commencing in September 2026, the Bursary Scheme seeks to incentivise teaching careers in subjects where recruitment challenges are most acute. The recruitment and... More
    Closed 17 April 2026

  • TNIFF Grassroots Facilities Programme - Stream 1

    The Northern Ireland Football Fund (TNIFF) is a long-standing Executive commitment to invest in modernising our local footballing infrastructure. The Northern Ireland Football Fund will invest in three areas: • Performance Programme • Grassroots Facilities Programme • National Football Centre Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot Stage The Grassroots Facilities... More
    Closed 15 April 2026

  • Five-Year Education Budget Strategy

    The Department of Education has set out its proposals for a Five-Year Education Budget Strategy. This strategy has been brought forward in the context of an exceptionally challenging budget position, which requires the Department of Education to consider significant changes to ensure the long‑term sustainability of education services. We want to hear your views. This is your opportunity to shape how available funding is used to deliver education services. ... More
    Closed 3 April 2026

  • Review of Religious Education (RE) in NI - Call for Evidence

    The Department of Education is carrying out a review of the Religious Education (RE) Core Syllabus for in Northern Ireland. The review will cover Foundation Stage to Key Stage 4 (Year 1 to Year 12) The review follows a Supreme Court judgment that concluded the current RE Core Syllabus does not convey information in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner. The existing syllabus is nearly 20 years old, and the review aligns with the wider reform of the Northern Ireland Curriculum. ... More
    Closed 20 March 2026

  • Department of Education - Attendance Survey - for adults

    This consultation relates to DE's new “Attendance Matters” strategy and issues associated with ensuring that children and young people attend school every day. Recent pupil absence statistics show almost 82,500 pupils are currently missing 10% or more of their school days. There has been a significant increase in these figures since 2018/19, and this is a worrying trend that we should all be concerned about. The Department’s updated attendance strategy... More
    Closed 6 March 2026

  • Department of Education - Attendance Survey - for completion by children and young people

    This consultation is about DE's new "Attendance Matters" strategy . We also want to hear from you about what it is like to attend school “Attendance Matters” strategy every day. We also want to hear from you about what it is like to attend school every day. Your response will be anonymous, we will not know who you are. Although the majority of pupils attend school regularly, there are some who struggle with attendance and the factors behind poor... More
    Closed 6 March 2026

  • RE Drafting Group - Expressions of Interest

    The Department of Education is commencing a review of the Religious Education (RE) Core Syllabus. The review will cover Foundation Stage to Key Stage 4 (Year 1 to Year 12). The review follows a Supreme Court judgment that concluded the current RE Core Syllabus does not convey information in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner. The existing syllabus is nearly 20 years old, and the review aligns with the wider reform of the Northern Ireland Curriculum. Find out more about... More
    Closed 27 February 2026

  • Halloween Revision Scheme - Data Capture & Evaluation Form

    Schools that provided a Halloween Revision Scheme to support Year 12 pupils preparing to sit modular examinations should complete this form to detail expenditure incurred and provide an evaluation of the impact of the scheme. More
    Closed 27 January 2026

  • Post Engagement Survey, CCEA Qualifications: School Leaders

    At the recent engagement event with school leaders, the Department of Education provided further information on the evidence considered in developing the proposals on the future of CCEA GCSEs, AS levels and A levels and discussed a range of views and concerns that had been raised by respondents to the consultation. The information shared at the events included: Research findings comparing modular and linear assessment structures at GCSE and A level. Evidence relating to the... More
    Closed 26 January 2026

  • CONSULTATION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW ORGANISATION TO SUPPORT CONTROLLED SCHOOLS

    INTRODUCTION The Department would like to hear your views and feedback on its policy proposals to establish, through new legislation, the statutory framework for a new organisation to support controlled schools. This public consultation will form part of a wide ranging and targeted engagement with schools, parents, young people, other government Departments, teacher unions, key interest groups and other stakeholders. We strongly advise everyone to... More
    Closed 11 December 2025

  • Curriculum Review – Curriculum Survey

    Help Shape the Future Curriculum As you know, the newly appointed Curriculum Taskforce will soon begin designing a new system level curriculum framework for Northern Ireland. As part of this exciting work, we are setting up subject groups including practitioners to develop the content for each specific subject. We appreciate that not everyone who may wish to be involved can be due to time constraints but it is important that everyone has a chance to contribute. ... More
    Closed 28 November 2025

  • The Future of CCEA GCSEs, AS levels and A levels

    Who is conducting the consultation? The consultation is being conducted by the Department of Education (Department). It is targeted at everyone who has an interest in the qualifications available in Northern Ireland, notably students, schools, parents, further education, higher education and employers. Introduction Qualifications represent the formal recognition of knowledge, skills and competencies acquired through study,... More
    Closed 13 November 2025

  • Temporary Variation (TV) Policy Review

    Thank you for taking the time to participate in our Temporary Variation (TV) policy review survey. Your feedback is incredibly valuable in helping us understand the needs and preferences of those directly involved with schools. Please read the consultation document prior to completing the survey. Where a school is oversubscribed with applications, it may apply to the department to admit additional, named children. The Temporary Variation (TV) Policy ( ... More
    Closed 3 November 2025

  • Strengthening Inspection Legislation for Schools and Other Education and Training Establishments

    Inspection is a critical part of school improvement, of supporting and maintaining the professionalism of our teaching workforce and of providing assurances to the public that our schools and other education and training establishments are providing quality education. It is vital to all learners. The prolonged absence of inspection during the past decade due to its inclusion within Action Short of Strike means many schools have not been identified for the... More
    Closed 10 July 2025

  • Department of Education - 16-18 Legislation - Children and Young People

    We are the Department of Education and we would like to hear your views on changes to the law. The Department of Education is a government department in Northern Ireland which oversees everything that happens in school and youth services. We work to improve the wellbeing of children and young people and make sure you get the best learning experience possible. We want to know what you think about making changes to the law. These changes would mean that all young people are required... More
    Closed 4 July 2025

  • Department of Education - 16-18 Legislation - Main

    Minister’s Foreword This consultation proposes legislation for all learners to participate in education, apprenticeship or training until age 18. It also explores how it will impact schools, Further Education colleges, employers, training providers and the voluntary and community sector. Research shows that investment in education can deliver a better future for all. If sufficient investment is made in the right areas at the right time, the vision is... More
    Closed 4 July 2025
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