Press Release
Date: Wednesday 23 June 2004 (NR/18/04)
CCEA Chairman welcomes minister's announcement on future curriculum and assessment arrangements
The Chairman of educational advisory body, CCEA, Dr Alan Lennon has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Education, Barry Gardiner MP that he has accepted CCEA’s advice on their proposed changes to the statutory curriculum and assessment arrangements.
Dr Lennon described the announcement as “being very significant for the whole of the education service in Northern Ireland”. He continued:
"This brings to an end the major phase of reviewing what is taught and assessed in our schools, a process that we’ve been conducting now for five years. We’re now looking forward to supporting the process of change as it takes place over the next 5 or 6 years, in close collaboration with our partners in the Education and Library Boards and the other agencies that will be involved. Most of all we look forward to working with teachers to ensure that the new arrangements benefit all of our children.
I am particularly pleased that the Minister has accepted our advice on increasing emphasis on skills development and on life and work issues. Placing these aspects at the centre of the curriculum will help us to give our children a head start in their preparations at school for their future lives as individuals, as members of society, and as contributors to work and to the environment. These changes, particularly at the post-primary stage, will require schools to strengthen their links with the world outside education. CCEA is already gearing up to support them in meeting this challenge.
But we must not forget that school days themselves are supposed to be the ‘best days of our lives’. I am sure that the new arrangements announced today, by giving schools more flexibility, will help them to provide learning experiences that are even more motivating, engaging, relevant and enjoyable.”
Background to the review of the Northern Ireland Curriculum and its assessment arrangements
The Review has been taking place over a number of years and has involved THREE detailed consultations.
Phase 1 Consultation, from April to June 2000, CCEA asked about and received support for:
- the curriculum framework (aim, objectives, skills, values)
- the structure of the primary curriculum; and
- proposed new aspects of post-primary such as Personal Development,
Citizenship and Employability.
Phase 2 consultation, from April to October 2002 CCEA asked about:
- the detail of the Primary Curriculum, which received strong support;
and
- detailed proposals for Key Stage 4 which received general approval;
and
- a discussion paper on Key Stage 3 which, in the views of respondents,
lacked sufficient detail and was not strongly supported.
Phase 3 consultation from September to November 2003 CCEA focused entirely on Key Stage 3. Main areas covered included:
- increasing more flexibility through the concept of a minimum statutory
curriculum,
- replacing the current system of key stage 3 testing with ongoing assessment
and a pupil profile,
- the introduction of a new curriculum area known as Learning for Life
and Work to include - Education for Employability, Local and Global Citizenship,
and Personal Development.
Media enquiries to Frances Logue on (028) 9026 1298, Mobile 07747 560516. E mail flogue@ccea.org.uk
ENDS
Note to Editors
CCEA is the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment.
CCEA places learners and those who have a concern for their educational and personal development at the forefront of its thinking. CCEA's mission is:
"To enable the full potential of all learners to be achieved and recognised"
What we do
CCEA is a unique educational body in the UK , bringing together the three areas of curriculum, examinations and assessment.
Advising Government – on what should be taught in Northern Ireland ’s schools and colleges.
Monitoring Standards – ensuring that the qualifications and examinations offered by awarding bodies in Northern Ireland are of an appropriate quality and standard.
Awarding Qualifications
– as Northern Ireland’s leading awarding body we offer a diverse range of qualifications, such as GCSEs, including the new GCSE Double Award specifications in vocational subjects, GCE A and AS levels, Entry Level Qualifications, and Graded Objectives in Modern Languages.
- CCEA also offers a range of Awards and Certificates in Education, Training and Skills (ACETS) targeted at learners who want to get
the knowledge, understanding and skills needed
to hit the ground running in the world of work.
