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Legislation

On this page the provisions of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and its subsequent Commencement Orders are explained.

The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 provides the broad legislative framework to implement the revised statutory curriculum, to give effect to aspects of the new arrangements for post-primary education, including the curricular Entitlement Framework and powers to introduce new admissions arrangements.  The Order also introduced new arrangements for the expulsion and suspension of pupils from grant-aided schools and made a number of other legislative changes.  The Order became law on 19 July 2006.  

The Education Order and the Explanatory Memorandum are available on the Office of Public Sector Information website.  Alternatively, hard copies of the Education Order and Explanatory Memorandum can be ordered from the Stationery Office for £7.00 and £3.00 respectively.

The first Commencement Order

The first Commencement Order, The Education (2006 Order) (Commencement No.1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007, was made on 23 January 2007.  The Order brings Article 21 into operation from 26 January 2007 and Article 35 into operation on 11 June 2007.

Article 21 gives the Board of Governors of a grant-aided school the power to make arrangements for secondary education to be provided on its behalf by other schools, further education colleges or suitable bodies approved by the Department of Education, and sets out conditions as to the form and nature of such arrangements.

Article 35 transfers responsibility for the approval of teaching qualifications (for registration purposes) from the Department of Education to the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI).

The Department of Education published Circular 2007/06 The Education (2006 Order) (Commencement No.1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 PDF 153 KB which explains the provisions of these articles.

The second Commencement Order

The Education (2006 Order) (Commencement No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007, was made on 22 March 2007.  The Order brings into operation certain minor amendments and repeals which follow the commencement of Article 21 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.

The Department of Education has published Circular 2007/20 The Education (2006 Order) (Commencement No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 PDF 180 KB which explains the provision of the Order.