Press Release
Date: Wednesday 17 May 2006 (NR/15/06)
Early Years Enriched Curriculum – CCEA Tells critics “Next time check the facts”
The Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) has responded to comments made earlier today regarding the Early Years Enriched Curriculum programme.
Gavin Boyd, Chief Executive of CCEA commented:
“Mr McCartney has been very poorly advised on this matter. His comments reveal little understanding of how this approach to learning is delivered in the classroom, the benefits it has brought to primary schools across Northern Ireland, and the lengths CCEA has gone to ensure independent and rigorous evaluation prior to advising Government.
His comments on the research are at odds not only with the considered views of the research team at Queen’s University Belfast and the Education and Training Inspectorate, but also with the independent review of the Early Years programme research carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research.”
Commenting on the ‘graphs’ referred to by Mr McCartney Mr Boyd said:
“Over four years the data clearly demonstrates no significant difference in performance between those following the early years enriched curriculum approach and those following more traditional methods. However, those following the early years enriched curriculum may have received up to two years less ‘traditional’ teaching. Most importantly the children exhibit all the predispositions required for a successful education.
Whilst it is true that if children are not educated in the same formal manner from age 4, they will not achieve just as well in formal assessments at the end
of P1 and P2, this more developmentally appropriate approach to teaching has clearly demonstrated its benefits.
Mr Boyd continued:
“CCEA withheld its approval for the early years enriched curriculum approach and its final advice to the Minister until it was quite clear that the approach was working.
The summary document has been on our web site from the beginning of the year and the full report has been available to any who asked for it. Today we’re making the full report available via the CCEA website – www.ccea.org.uk
The six schools in the Shankill have pioneered a success story for Northern Ireland education. Their initiative and vision has seen this approach trialled in more than 100 primary schools. I would suggest Mr McCartney visit some of the Shankill schools, or any of the many other schools involved in the pilot. ”
Media enquiries to Ruth Maguire on (028) 9026 1216, Mobile 07796947993. E mail rhmaguire@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.
