The Northern Ireland Curriculum in Irish-Medium Education
Irish-Medium Education (IME) in Northern Ireland follows the Northern Ireland Curriculum, which provides a broad and balanced framework for all pupils aged 4–11. IM schools deliver this curriculum through the medium of Irish, using an immersion approach that enables children to become confident bilingual learners.
What is Immersion Education?
Immersion education means that Irish is the language of instruction and communication throughout the school day. From Naíscoil (pre-school) through the Foundation Stage and into Key Stage 1, pupils are fully immersed in Irish, even if they come from homes where English is the dominant language. English literacy is introduced gradually, usually from P3, once pupils have a strong foundation in Irish. This approach:
• Promotes natural language acquisition through meaningful contexts.
• Develops high levels of fluency in Irish and English.
• Enhances cognitive skills, problem-solving, and cultural awareness. Research consistently shows that children in immersion settings achieve as well as, or better than, their peers in English-medium schools in both languages and across the curriculum. [eani.org.uk], [foras.ie], [cogg.ie]

Stages of the Primary Curriculum
• Foundation Stage: Years 1–2
• Key Stage 1: Years 3–4
• Key Stage 2: Years 5–7

Areas of Learning
The curriculum is organised into six Areas of Learning (seven in IM schools, as Irish and English literacy are distinct):
1. Language and Literacy
o Irish: Talking, listening, reading, and writing through Irish.
o English: Introduced later in Key Stage 1.
2. Mathematics and Numeracy
o Number, measures, shape and space, handling data.
3. The Arts
o Art and design, music, drama.
4. The World Around Us
o History, geography, science and STEM.
5. Personal Development and Mutual Understanding
o Health, safety, relationships, community.
6. Physical Development and Movement / Physical Education
o Games, gymnastics, dance, athletics, swimming.
7. Religious Education
o Core syllabus for understanding beliefs and values.

Cross-Curricular Skills
These skills are embedded across all learning areas:
• Communication (in Irish and later English)
• Using Mathematics
• Using ICT [ccea.org.uk], [nidirect.gov.uk]
Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities
• Managing Information
• Thinking, Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
• Being Creative
• Working with Others
• Self-Management [ccea.org.uk]

Immersion Approach in Practice
• Early Years: All teaching and interaction through Irish; English is not used for instruction.
• Foundation Stage: Irish dominates; oral language development is prioritised.
• Key Stage 1: Gradual introduction of English literacy while maintaining Irish immersion.
• Key Stage 2: Irish immersion; pupils achieve competence in both languages.
• Pedagogy: Rich, interactive experiences—play, stories, songs, and real-life contexts—support language and concept development. Teachers use visuals, hands-on activities, and collaborative learning to make meaning clear. [foras.ie], [qub.ac.uk]

Benefits of Irish-Medium Education
• Bilingualism: Pupils leave school fluent in Irish and English.
• Academic Achievement: Strong performance in literacy and numeracy.
• Cultural Identity: Deep connection to Irish language and heritage.
• Cognitive Advantages: Enhanced problem-solving and creativity. [cogg.ie]

Key Message for Parents
Irish-medium schools follow the same curriculum as all Northern Ireland schools, but with the added advantage of bilingual education through immersion. This approach nurtures confident, capable learners who thrive academically and culturally.

Curaclam Thuaisceart Éireann sa Tumoideachas
Leanann an Tumoideachas i dTuaisceart Éireann Curaclam Thuaisceart Éireann, a chuireann creat leathan agus cothrom ar fáil do gach dalta idir 4–11 bliana d’aois. Cuireann Gaelscoileanna an curaclam seo i bhfeidhm trí mheán na Gaeilge, ag baint úsáide as cur chuige tumoideachais a chuireann ar chumas páistí a bheith ina bhfoghlaimeoirí dátheangacha muiníneacha.
Cad é an rud é Tumoideachas?
Ciallaíonn tumoideachas go bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar theanga teagaisc agus chumarsáide i rith an lae scoile. Ón Naíscoil (réamhscoil) tríd an Bhonnchéim agus isteach in Eochairchéim 1, bíonn daltaí go hiomlán tumtha sa Ghaeilge, fiú má thagann siad ó theaghlaigh ina bhfuil an Béarla i réim. Tugtar litearthacht Bhéarla isteach de réir a chéile, de ghnáth ó Rang 3, nuair atá bunús láidir Gaeilge ag na páistí. Cuireann an cur chuige seo:
• Chun cinn sealbhú nádúrtha teanga i gcomhthéacsanna bríocha.
• Forbairt ardleibhéal líofachta sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla.
• Feabhas ar scileanna cognaíocha, réiteach fadhbanna agus feasacht chultúrtha.
Taispeánann taighde go seasmhach go mbíonn páistí i suíomhanna tumoideachais chomh maith céanna nó níos fearr ná a gcomhscoláirí i scoileanna lán-Bhéarla sa dá theanga agus ar fud an churaclaim. [eani.org.uk], [foras.ie], [cogg.ie]

Céimeanna an Churaclaim Bhunscoile
• Bonnchéim: Ranganna 1–2
• Eochairchéim 1: Ranganna 3–4
• Eochairchéim 2: Ranganna 5–7

Réimsí Foghlama
Tá an curaclam eagraithe i sé réimse foghlama (seacht réimse i nGaelscoileanna, mar go bhfuil litearthacht na Gaeilge agus an Bhéarla beirt ann):
1. Teanga agus Litearthacht
o Gaeilge: Labhairt, éisteacht, léitheoireacht agus scríbhneoireacht trí Ghaeilge.
o Béarla: Tugtar isteach níos moille in Eochairchéim 1.
2. Matamaitic agus Uimhreas
o Uimhreacha, tomhais, cruth agus spás, láimhseáil sonraí.
3. Na hEalaíona
o Ealaín agus dearadh, ceol, drámaíocht.
4. An Domhan Thart Orainn
o Stair, tíreolaíocht, eolaíocht agus ETIM.
5. Forbairt Phearsanta agus Comhthuiscint
o Sláinte, sábháilteacht, caidrimh, an pobal.
6. Forbairt agus Gluaiseacht Fhisiceach
o Cluichí, gleacaíocht, damhsa, lúthchleasaíocht, snámh.
7. Oideachas Reiligiúnach
o Siollabas lárnach chun tuiscint ar chreidimh agus luachanna a fhorbairt. [ccea.org.uk], [nidirect.gov.uk]

Scileanna Traschuraclaim
Tá na scileanna seo fite fuaite ar fud gach réimse foghlama:
• Cumarsáid (i nGaeilge agus níos moille i mBéarla)
• Úsáid na Matamaitice
• Úsáid TFC [ccea.org.uk], [nidirect.gov.uk]
Scileanna Smaointeoireachta agus Inniúlachtaí Pearsanta
• Bainistiú Eolais
• Smaointeoireacht, Réiteach Fadhbanna agus Cinnteoireacht
• Bheith Cruthaitheach
• Ag Obair le Daoine Eile
• Féinbhainistíocht [ccea.org.uk]

Cur Chuige an Tumoideachais i gCleachtas
• Luathbhlianta: Gach teagasc agus idirghníomhaíocht trí Ghaeilge; ní úsáidtear an Béarla mar theanga teagaisc.
• Bonnchéim: Tá an Ghaeilge i réim; tugtar tús áite d’fhorbairt teanga ó bhéal.
• Eochairchéim 1: Tugtar litearthacht Bhéarla isteach de réir a chéile agus an tumoideachas Gaeilge á chothabháil.
• Eochairchéim 2: Tumoideachas Gaeilge á chothabháil; baineann daltaí inniúlacht amach sa dá theanga.
• Pedagógaíocht: Eispéiris shaibhir idirghníomhacha—spraoi, scéalta, amhráin agus comhthéacsanna fíorshaoil—chun forbairt teanga agus coincheapa a spreagadh. Úsáideann múinteoirí ábhair amhairc, gníomhaíochtaí praiticiúla agus foghlaim chomhoibríoch chun brí a dhéanamh soiléir. [foras.ie], [qub.ac.uk]

Buntáistí an Tumoideachais
• Dátheangachas: Fágann daltaí an scoil líofa sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla.
• Gnóthachtáil Acadúil: Feidhmíocht láidir i litearthacht agus in uimhreas.
• Féiniúlacht Chultúrtha: Nasc domhain leis an Ghaeilge agus leis an oidhreacht.
• Buntáistí Cognaíocha: Feabhas ar réiteach fadhbanna agus ar chruthaitheacht. [cogg.ie]

Príomh-Theachtaireacht do Thuismitheoirí
Leanann Gaelscoileanna an curaclam céanna le gach scoil i dTuaisceart Éireann, ach leis an bhuntáiste breise an tumoideachais. Cuireann an cur chuige seo ar chumas páistí a bheith ina bhfoghlaimeoirí muiníneacha, cumasacha a n-éiríonn go maith leo go hacadúil agus go cultúrtha.