Thinking Deeply about Primary Education Curriculum Thinking: International Perspectives with Lucy Crehan
Sep 6, 2025
Lucy Crehan, author of *Cleverlands* and an international education consultant, dives into the unique curriculum challenges in Northern Ireland. She discusses the historical context that shapes education there, emphasizing the need for a purpose-driven, coherent curriculum. The conversation reveals the struggles novice teachers face with ambiguous guidelines and contrasts Northern Ireland’s system with those of England, Wales, and Scotland. Crehan advocates learning from international standards to enhance educational practices and improve student outcomes.
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Unique Mix Shapes Northern Ireland Education
- Northern Ireland’s uniqueness lies in the mix of strong teacher training, a selective grammar system, and a high-level skills-focused curriculum.
- Lucy Crehan notes no other system she studied combines these three features closely.
Review Prompted By Time And Stagnant PISA
- The curriculum was reviewed partly because it dated from 2007 and partly due to stagnant PISA trends.
- Crehan highlights differences between GCSE and international assessments that complicate comparisons.
Flexibility Brings Strengths And Costs
- Teachers value the curriculum's flexibility, skills focus, and cross-subject connections.
- Crehan warns flexibility also caused vagueness that fuels variation and transition problems.
