Entitlement Framework
The Education (NI) Order 2006 places a mandatory requirement on Boards of Governors to provide all pupils at grant-aided schools with access to the Entitlement Framework (EF).
The Entitlement Framework is an integral part of young people's education within the Revised Curriculum at Key Stage 4 and post-16 and must not be seen as an optional extra or a short-term initiative. The requirement to offer greater breadth and balance in the courses and pathways available to young people is a key contributor to our overall goal of raising standards within all post-primary schools and of reducing the levels of educational underachievement that currently exist.
The EF will guarantee all post primary pupils aged 14 and above 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, including a minimum range of vocational courses.
The Minister for Education, John O’Dowd MLA, confirmed, in his Autumn statement in September 2011, his commitment to progressing the implementation of the EF. He stated the importance of ensuring we have a curriculum offer at Key Stage 4 and post-16 that engages and motivates our young people – they are the future and our economy demands that their education properly prepares them for life and work in the 21st century.
He also announced his intention to phase the full requirements in, starting with setting interim targets for fewer course numbers from 2013. From September 2013 therefore, schools will be required to provide access to at least 18 courses at Key Stage 4 –a third of these must be general and a third applied. This will increase to 21 courses by September 2014 and the full 24 by September 2015.
The post-16 requirements will also be phased in, starting with 21 courses from September 2013, then 24 courses by September 2014 and the full 27 courses by September 2015.
The Entitlement Framework Online audit has been developed by the Western Education & Library Board (WELB), in consultation with the other education partners, primarily in order to help schools establish a baseline of their current curriculum provision at KS4 and Post-16. The audit also allows schools to access details of the current level of co-operation and collaboration, indicate their perceived state of readiness for the full implementation of the Entitlement Framework and highlight any problems or concerns.
In addition, the audit information enables schools in Area Learning Communities to assess details of the total offer in the local area. This will enable schools working together to identify the needs and priorities within the area and to develop the necessary collaborative arrangements to maximise the offer to young people.
A report of the 2008/09 Audit is available on the Western Education and Library Board's Curriculum Advisory and Support Service (CASS) website. This provides details of the curricular offer and arrangements in all board areas.
Further information about the Entitlement Framework has been provided in Circular 2005/18 Entitlement Framework – Initial Guidance 100 KB PDF and Circular 2006/20 Entitlement Framework - Further Guidance 184 KB PDF.
The Department has published Circular 2007/23 Approval of Qualifications, and Guidance on the Classification of Courses PDF 208 KB which classifies and lists Key Stage 4 and Post 16 courses in relation to the requirements of the Entitlement Framework. The list of approved courses has been superseded with Circular 2011/26 General & Applied Courses: Revised Definitions PDF 130KB, with an Irish language version PDF 130KB also available. In addition, the Online Audit is regularly updated with new courses approved under the Entitlement Framework, and the current list can be accessed through the Online Audit website.
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For most schools some form of collaboration with other providers will be necessary to enable pupils to have access to the full number of courses specified under the Entitlement Framework. Article 21 of the Education Order 2006 enables schools to secure provision for students at other institutions; Circular 2007/20 The Education (2006 Order) (Commencement No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 179 KB PDF outlines the statutory requirements for schools. Recognising that schools are starting from different points, the number of courses and the commencement date are not specified in the Order, to provide flexibility to phase in the requirements at a pace that is appropriate and manageable for schools.
Support for collaborative arrangements between schools, and/or between schools and FE colleges and other providers is provided through a programme co-ordinated on an area basis Circular 2010/13: Delivering the Entitlement Framework by 2013: Guidance for Phase II of the Entitlement Framework Support Arrangements for Schools 112KB (Irish Version PDF 127KB) (Bi-lingual Version PDF 206KB) provided guidance on the next phase of implementation PDF 193KB (Irish Version PDF 199KB) including the revised financial support arrangements for schools for the 2010/11 year. The Department has reviewed these arrangements for 2011/12 and on 19 August 2011 issued DE Circular 2011/09 Delivering the Entitlment Framework by 2013: Guidance to Schools for Phase II of the Entitlement Framework Support Arrangements 2011/12 PDF 154KB (Irish Version PDF 157KB).
To assist schools to develop effective collaboration arrangements the Department has made resources available through ELBs, CCMS, NICIE and CnaG to enable them to provide support for learning communities. The Development Officers work with schools to identify the most appropriate arrangements to maximise the curricular offer to young people. The Development Officers are:-
The Department has also established an Development Officers Regional Forum to facilitate the Development of a coherent and cohesive regional strategy for supporting collaborative arrangements. A key aim of the forum is to share best practice across all schools.
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