Spec changes... CCEA are changing their subject specifications
Entitlement Framework
The Entitlement Framework is a Department of Education policy that has been designed to provide all students between the ages of 14 and 19 with flexibility and access to a wide range of courses by September 2013.
At Key Stage 4, centres must offer 24 courses, and at post-16, centres must offer 27 courses. At least one-third of the courses offered must be applied and one-third must be general. DENI offers more information on the current designation of courses.
New applieds and nationally-recognised vocational qualifications
To help centres meet these new requirements, we’re increasing our provision of applied courses. We’ll be introducing new GCSE and GCE applieds and new nationally-recognised vocational qualifications on a phased basis over the next few years. The courses will be:
- appropriate to work-based learning; and
- reflective of the needs of our local economy.
To ensure this, we have been in preliminary consultation with representative bodies from the wider educational community since February 2010. These include:
- schools (principals and vice principals);
- education and library boards;
- area learning communities;
- employers;
- employer representatives;
- The Department of Employment and Learning;
- The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
- sector skills councils; and
- trade associations.
Once our consultation is completed and the information evaluated, our development teams will quickly begin work on the specifications that have been agreed. The estimated development timeline for the GCEs is as follows:
February 2010 – September 2010
Consultations with teachers and wider stakeholders on which new applied qualifications you would like to see us offer at GCE
October 2010 – April 2011
Review of GCE criteria for applied qualifications
April 2011 – February 2012
Development and accreditation of new Applied GCE qualifications
From March 2012
New Applied GCE qualifications arrive in centres
From March 2012
Launch events and support for centres on the new Applied GCE qualifications
September 2013
First teaching of new Applied GCE qualifications
Entitlement Framework newsletter
In the meantime, we’ll be introducing a new print and online publication that covers all the latest news on how the new qualifications are developing. Watch for the first issue, which will be coming your way in October 2010.
Get involved
There will be formal opportunities for you to have your say in the coming months. However, if before then you have any ideas about qualifications we could offer to meet the Entitlement Framework, please phone Amanda Swann on (028) 9026 1200 ext. 2100 or feel free to email her.
Contacts
For more information regarding the Entitlement Framework please contact:
| Michael McAuley Education Manager - Qualifications Development T: (028) 9026 1200 |
Frances Donnelly Education Manager - Qualifications Development T: (028) 9026 1200 |
