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 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 target date for the full implementation of the EF is September 2009. From that date, schools will be required to provide pupils with access to a minimum number of courses at Key Stage 4 (current target 24) and minimum number of courses at post-16 (current target 27). In both cases at least one-third of the courses must be general (academic) and at least one-third applied (vocational/professional/technical). The remaining one-third of courses is at the discretion of each school and provides schools with an opportunity to develop a unique and distinctive curricular offer. Of equal importance to the range of courses is the coherence of the offer which should enable young people to choose from a package of courses that leads to progression to further education, higher education, training and employment.
The Entitlement Framework Online audit tool 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 should allow 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 2006/07 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. 94.6% of schools completed the audit in 2006/07 (94.2% GS and 94.8% SS). The 2007/08 Audit is open for completion between 19 October and 21 December 2007.
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 all Key Stage 4 and Post 16 courses in relation to the requirement of the Entitlement Framework. This circular is regularly updated by DE and this current list of approved courses can be accessed through the Online Audit website.
Back to top
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.
Since 2004 to date resources have been made available through two specific programmes to support schools as they explore options for full delivery of the EF at a local level – they are:
The 2007/08 year will be the last in which support for the delivery of the EF will be separated into these two strands.
From 2008/09, support for collaborative arrangements between schools, and/or between schools and FE colleges and other providers, will be provided through a single programme co-ordinated on an area basis. Circular DE 2008/12 Entitlement Framework Support: Guidance on Arrangements for 2008/09 School Year 177KB PDF issued 17 June 2008 outlines the development of the Entitlement Framework policy and details the support arrangements to assist schools to make progress towards the delivery of the Entitlement Framework.
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 E2S Development Officers work with schools to identify the most appropriate arrangements to maximise the curricular offer to young people. The E2S Development Officers are:-
The Department has also established an E2S 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.
Back to top
|
