AQW 32150/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 26/09/2025
Answered On Date: 03/10/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any changes to grief and bereavement education which will be considered as part of the work of the new Curriculum Taskforce Advisory Committee.

Answer:

Schools in Northern Ireland currently have a duty to address grief and bereavement through the statutory curriculum. In primary schools, pupils explore feelings and emotions, including grief, under Personal Development and Mutual Understanding. In post-primary education, Learning for Life and Work (LLW) includes strategies for coping with grief and loss.

The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment provides a range of teaching resources that support the delivery of grief, loss, and bereavement education across key stages. These resources are designed to ensure that schools are well-equipped to support pupils during such experiences.

The Curriculum Taskforce will consider how best to develop the core components of a reformed PDMU and LLW, including Citizenship, Employability and Personal Development, to ensure clear progression throughout each key stage. A key priority is ensuring the curriculum is coherent and manageable. It is essential to avoid curriculum overload and strike an appropriate balance between breadth and depth.