Qualifications
The Department of Education is inviting comments in relation to proposed changes to GCSEs; namely assessment being taken at the end of the two year course (moving from the current unitised assessments to linear assessment arrangements) and an increased emphasis in mark schemes on Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG).
A consultation document has been published together with a response booklet to help respondents provide a structured response and we would welcome your views on these potential changes.
The consultation will run from 10 October 2011 to 30 December 2011.
The consultation documentation can be accessed via the links below.
Policy Document (English) PDF 929 KB
Policy Document (Irish) PDF 272 KB
Policy Document - Young People's version PDF 2.02 MB
Policy Document - Young People's version (Irish) PDF 2.03 MB
Consultation Response Form PDF 61.1 KB
Consultation Response Form (Irish) 103 KB
Respond Online
Respond Online (Irish)
Ofqual’s consultation on GCSE Reform was launched on 26 September 2011.
Any comments, or requests for documents, can be addressed to the Assessment & Qualifications Team:
By email: aqt@deni.gov.uk
By telephone: 028 91279543
By Textphone 18001 028 91279543
By writing to:
The Assessment & Qualifications Team
Department of Education,
Room G11,
Rathgael House,
43 Balloo Road,
Rathgill,
Bangor,
BT19 7PR.
Please let us know if you require the documents in any other format.
The Department of Education issues a list of approved qualifications that schools may provide for pupils in Key Stage 4 and provides advice to help schools in introducing the Entitlement Framework.The most up-to-date version is available through the Circulars section of the DE website.
Regulations on the use of mark enhancements in examinations, in cases where disabled students have been granted exemptions
The Department of Education has made a further set of regulations – “The Special Educational Needs and Disability (General Qualifications Bodies) (Relevant Qualifications, Reasonable Steps and Physical Features) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009”.
The regulations specify that in cases where a candidate has been exempted from one or more components of an examination on the grounds of disability, it is always a reasonable step to assess a candidate in relation to the components of that examination taken by him or her as if those components comprised the entire examination.
The regulations issued for consultation on 6 October 2008 and closed 28 November 2008. A total of six responses were received.
A summary of the responses to the consultation PDF 23.9KB is available to download.
The regulations are available at www.opsi.gov.uk and copies may also be purchased from TSO Bookshop, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GD.
Information about the content of the regulations is provided in:
Circular 2009/03-Regulations on the use of mark enhancements in examinations, in cases where students with disabilities have been granted exemptions from one or more components of an examination-PDF 53.2 KB
The circular provides information about a further set of regulations which the Department of Education has made under the Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005.
Uimhir an Chiorcláin 2009/03-RIALACHÁN MAIDIR LE hÚSÁID A BHAINT AS FEABHSÚCHÁIN MARCANNA I SCRÚDUITHE, I gCÁSANNA INÁR DEONAÍODH DÍOLÚINE Ó CHUID AMHÁIN NÓ NÍOS MÓ DE SCRÚDÚ DO MHIC LÉINN ATÁ FAOI MHÍCHUMAS-PDF 77.1 KB
Cuireann an imlitir eolas ar fáil faoi shraith eile rialachán atá déanta ag an Roinn Oideachais faoin Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005.'
Regulations prohibiting discrimination by General Qualifications Bodies on the grounds of disability
The Department of Education (DE) has made two sets of regulations under the Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 which make it unlawful for general qualifications bodies to discriminate against candidates on the grounds of disability.
One set of regulations prescribes the list of qualifications covered by the 2005 Order; the other outlines the enforcement mechanisms for making a claim of unlawful discrimination against a general qualifications body.
Information about the content of the regulations is provided in Circular 2008/07 Regulations Prohibiting Discrimination by General Qualifications Bodies on the Grounds of Disability PDF 57 KB.
The regulations were the subject of a consultation exercise undertaken by DE during the period 30 July to 19 October 2007. A summary of the responses to the consultation PDF 30 KB is available.
The regulations are available at www.opsi.gov.uk and copies may also be purchased from TSO Bookshop, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GD.
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual)
Ofqual is the independent regulator of vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland and of qualifications (other than degrees) in England, accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly and to Parliament. Ofqual gives formal recognition to bodies and organisations that deliver qualifications and assessment and also accredit their awards and monitor their activities. The details of qualifications and organisations Ofqual regulates can be found on The Register. Further information can be found at www.ofqual.gov.uk
The Register
The Register of Regulated Qualifications contains details of organisations and qualifications Ofqual regulates. It replaces the previous National Database of Accredited Qualifications (NDAQ). There are available links to view recognised awarding organisations and regulated qualifications; the register can be found at http://register.ofqual.gov.uk/
Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ)
JCQ is the the organisation representing the Awarding Bodies offering the majority of qualifications on offer in the UK. It helps the Awarding Bodies to create common standards and guidance on issues such as Access Arrangements and Special Consideration. Further details can be found at www.jcq.org.uk
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