Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) carried out an extensive review of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in 2018 and 2019 and a key recommendation arising from that review was the need for an updated Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum spanning both primary and post-primary education.

Following extensive work and public consultation, the NCCA has now finalised an updated SPHE curriculum for Junior Cycle which, following approval, will be rolled out in schools this coming September.

Work on Senior Cycle specifications has begun and it is expected to be available for public consultation in Q3 this year. A background paper was already published for consultation in October last year.

Work on Primary SPHE/RSE has begun and development of a draft primary specification is expected to be completed in early 2025. Public consultation on this specification is planned for 2024.

To support the implementation of the updated Junior Cycle SPHE curriculum, the SPHE teams from Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) and Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) collaboratively designed and developed a two-day face-to-face Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Workshop. The roll-out of these workshops began in March, ahead of formal approval of the new specification, in order to allow for roll-out in schools this coming September. The workshops will run until the end of May, and in total include 22 English workshops and two Gaeilge workshops. This two-day workshop is designed to enable participants to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of the role of the SPHE teacher and the creation of a safe, inclusive SPHE classroom
• Explore the updated specification , including its four strands and three cross-cutting elements
• Consider how to adopt the updated specification in their own school context
• Apply knowledge of the updated specification to develop an understanding of assessment, reflection and reporting in SPHE
• Spend time planning collaboratively

JCT also designed, developed and delivered a one-hour online learning event in March as part of their Festival of Professional Learning where 186 participants explored the new Junior Cycle specification.

In addition, I recently announced the commencement of a new postgraduate programme to upskill registered post-primary teachers teaching SPHE/RSE. This programme, funded by my Department and provided by Dublin City University (DCU) Institute of Education, provides a pathway for progression for post-primary teachers interested in developing their skills in teaching SPHE/RSE, building capacity and leadership within the teaching profession in relation to this important area.

The upskilling programme and course fees are covered by Department funding while substitute cover is provided to allow participating students undertake the programme. The programme is a blended learning approach with the aim to upskill teachers’ pedagogical practice and leadership skills in relation to the delivery of SPHE/RSE in post-primary schools.

The role of the SPHE/RSE teacher is complex, with a range of sensitive topics addressed in the classroom. Teachers need ongoing, appropriate teacher professional development to support them in this important work. In addition, curricular changes at both junior and senior cycle level are imminent. This new programme will take account of these changes as they emerge. The programme will lead to enhanced teacher competency to successfully implement these curricular changes. The first cohort of students commenced in February 2023.

The above programmes are among a range of CPD opportunities provided by Support Services funded by my Department including the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) (cross-sectoral service covering primary and senior cycle at post-primary); Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT); National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT); and Centre for School Leadership (CSL). These Support Services provide their suite of professional development opportunities at primary and post-primary level.

PDST facilitates a wide range of CPD for SPHE and RSE and Wellbeing in the context of a whole-school approach provided by its Primary and Post-Primary Health and Wellbeing Teams. At Primary level, PDST aims to support teachers as reflective practitioners by providing a range of CPD opportunities in the areas of PE, physical literacy, fundamental movement skills, physical activity, movement breaks; SPHE and RSE; Child Protection, Stay Safe, Anti-Bullying; Teacher Wellbeing; Restorative Practice; Wellbeing in Education (School Self-Evaluation). It can be noted that 41 PDST RSE Face-to-Face Seminars are being facilitated countrywide this month, aimed at equipping Primary teachers to become competent and confident in teaching the sensitive elements of RSE in the context of SPHE.

At Post-Primary level, PDST supports teachers as reflective practitioners by providing a range of professional development opportunities in the areas of PE, LCPE, SCPE, Mental Health, Personal Safety, Substance Use, Restorative Practice, Child Protection, Teacher Wellbeing and Wellbeing in Education (SSE), as well as Senior Cycle RSE and the new Junior Cycle SPHE curriculum.

Also, following on from a recommendation in the 2019 Report on the Review of RSE, a portal site was developed by the NCCA where teachers can access SPHE/RSE teaching and learning resources. These online toolkits are published by the NCCA to support teachers in teaching SPHE at each stage of learning, and are found on curriculumonline.ie. The materials in these toolkits are designed to support teachers in independently progressing their professional development in SPHE. They can also be used to support professional conversations in school and for professional development at a team or whole staff level.