Circular 84/2026 - School Self-Evaluation (SSE)
Nov 05, 2026
Read the full circular: Circular 0084/2026
What's New
Annual improvement cycle (optional)
Schools can organise SSE around a yearly cycle. At the end of each year, review progress and decide whether each priority should continue, be refined or conclude. If you finish, you choose another focus for the following year. An annual cycle does not mean improvement work has to finish within one year.
Flexible approach
The six-step SSE process is still a useful framework, but schools can use it or other approaches. The focus is on professional dialogue and impact on learners, not on following a set sequence. The key points of identifying a focus, gathering and analysing data, trying an improvement plan and reviewing continue to be core to the change process. How you go about it can vary.
Not just curriculum
Many schools may choose curriculum enactment as a priority, but it is not required. It does give a clear focus that you will already be engaging with and recording evidence of engagement to avoid adding additional workload. Schools choose the areas most likely to improve learner experiences and outcomes in their setting.
Proportionate records
Avoid unnecessary documentation or duplication. SSE can be included in existing school planning documents.
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Who needs to do what?
Principals and staff
Gather a range of evidence, reflect on it together and agree priorities. Involve learners and parents in identifying priorities, shaping actions and evaluating impact.
Boards of Management
Boards should be aware of the school’s chosen SSE focus and progress. The circular does not change the existing guidance on reporting. Boards should continue to ensure the school shares a brief summary of its SSE and improvement plan with the whole school community. Keeping SSE on the Board agenda is good practice. More information and optional templates available here.
DEIS schools
The DEIS Plan is the school’s SSE plan. It runs over three years and is reviewed annually. This does not change.
What must be recorded (in whatever format works)
- the priority or priorities identified for improvement
- evidence informing those priorities
- targets and actions agreed
- plans for monitoring progress
- the outcomes of review
- decisions regarding next steps
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Key dates
- 4 November 2026: Circular 0084/2026 issued
- November 2026: New arrangements apply. Circular 0056/2022 is replaced.
- End of each improvement cycle: Review progress and decide next steps
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Links and Supports
- Circular 0084/2026: School Self-Evaluation: The Next Phase
- Reporting on SSE: templates and guidance Optional templates for an SSE report and improvement plan, a Board of Management checklist, and a summary to share with the school community.*These have not been recently update
- Inspectorate Report and Thematic Review 2024
- Looking at Our School 2022
