Céim Implementation Report
The second cycle of accreditation reviewed all Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes in Ireland against the updated Céim standards from 2021 to 2024. Reports were produced for each of the 52 accredited programmes: 11 in the primary sector and 41 in the post-primary sector. Following on from this, the Teaching Council collated all of the information they had received from the ITE programme providers and produced a report on the Implementation of Céim.
In September 2024, the Council completed the systemwide report on the implementation of Céim, focusing on:
- Changes from the 2011 Criteria to the 2020 Céim Standards
- Programme structure and core elements
- Gaeilge in the Primary Curriculum
- Research in School Placement
- Programme resourcing
The report highlights Inclusive Education and Global Citizenship Education as key areas to prepare teachers for modern educational needs. It showcases the important work by ITE programme providers, with particular examples of modular content to highlight the work that is being done by the ITE programme providers to prepare student teachers for the classroom.
Download the full Céim Implementation Report:
Droichead Policy Review
The Teaching Council commenced the review of the Droichead Policy in 2023, aiming to ensure the best support for newly qualified teachers (NQTs) and the best possible outcomes for their students. The review was completed in March 2025 following extensive research and consultation to cover areas outlined in the illustration below. Please note that the current Droichead policy will remain in place until September 2026.
Key Areas of Focus:
- Cluster Meetings
- Tailored Supports for diverse classroom settings
- Broad/System Supports
- Taisce
- Digital Transformation
- Resourcing
- Covid-19
- Role & Support for PST and School Leaders
- Policy Clarification-Operational Issues
- Policy alignment with Céim & Cosán
Stakeholder Engagement:
A series of engagements took place across the course of the Review with numerous stakeholders to capture their feedback on, and experience with the Policy, and to also sense check the proposed changes to the policy.
- Interviews: Conducted in January-February 2024 with representatives from primary and post-primary sectors.
- Survey: Facilitated by Oide from January-February 2024 to gather feedback from NQTs on Cluster Meetings.
- Focus Groups: Held in April-June 2024, informed by interview and survey stages.
- Focused Stakeholder Consultations: Conducted online in February 2025 to validate emerging themes.
Interviews
NAPD, IPPN, INTO, TUI, ESCI, NSCE, ASTI, Oide, the Department of Education, and the Inspectorate.
Survey
The survey saw high response rates, with 91% (1,597) of primary NQTs and 83% (799) of post-primary NQTs participating.
Focus Groups
Representatives from the various Management Bodies including the ACCS, ETBI, Forás, JMB, representatives from across 13 HEIs who deliver Initial Teacher Education, Oide Associates and PST members, members of the Inspectorate, and a mix of both Primary and Post-Primary NQTs.
Consultations (sense checking emerging themes)
Representatives from the Department of Education and Inspectorate, Oide, Unions, ESCI, Principal Bodies, Management Bodies, the National Parents Council, HEIs, Student Unions, AsIAm, AHEAD, and the Irish Centre for Diversity.