The Curriculum Entitlement Framework

The Curriculum Entitlement Framework is a new development which will guarantee all pupils greater choice and flexibility by providing them with access to a wide range of learning opportunities suited to their needs, aptitudes and interests, irrespective of where they live or the school they attend.

Schools will have to offer pupils access to a minimum of 24 courses at Key Stage 4 and 27 at post-16, and at least one third of these courses should be general and at least one third applied.

The Department has published Circular 2006/24 approval of qualifications and guidance on the classification of courses PDF 176 KB, to help schools assess whether courses currently on offer to pupils, or planned, are approved by the Department, and whether they may be classified as general or applied.

The guidance includes lists of approved general and applied Key Stage 4 courses PDF 29 KB, and approved general and applied post-16 courses PDF 23 KB, which will be updated on this website in response to requests from schools for further classifications if accredited courses currently on offer to pupils, or planned, are not listed.

Individual pupils will decide upon the number and blend of courses they will follow.

The Curriculum Entitlement Framework complements the revised curriculum which will be introduced on a phased basis from 2006. The new curriculum will:-

• provide a more joined-up and holistic approach
• have greater emphasis on real work skills, and the specific element of Learning for Life and Work
• provide greater flexibility to enable pupils to access the wider range of opportunities envisaged in the Curriculum Entitlement Framework.
  
  

The Department has issued Entitlement Frame work initial guidance to schools, with information to enable early consideration to be given to planning for the introduction of the Entitlement Framework.

More detailed information on the development of collaborative arrangements, including advice on key issues such as health and safety, timetabling and good practice principles, is available in Circular 2006/20 Entitlement Framework - Further Guidance PDF 185 KB and an accompanying booklet 'Delivering the Entitlement Framework - Guidance for schools' PDF 2338 KB.  To help schools through the process of formalising collaborative arrangements, the Department of Education has provided a number of exemplar documents.

Some statistical information on current availability of subjects is provided in the following document:

Entitlement Framework statistical analysis of current availability of subjects by school size and geographical area PDF 45 KB

Entitlement Framework Conference

On Tuesday 31 January 2006, the Department of Education, in association with the Regional Training Unit (RTU), sponsored a major Conference entitled 'Delivering the Entitlement Framework '.  The aim of the conference was to provide participants with the opportunity to hear about existing good collaborative practice and to begin the process of applying these ideas to their own schools’ situation.

Over 300 Principals and Senior Leaders from post-primary schools, Officers from the education partners, the Further Education sector and Teachers Unions attended the conference.

All of the presentations by the key-note speakers and from the breakout sessions are available to download from the RTU website.