Frequently asked questions on the Curriculum
Q. What are the years of compulsory education in Northern Ireland?
A. The 12 years of compulsory education are divided into 5 key stages of which Foundation and Key Stages 1 and 2 are primary education and Key Stages 3 and 4 are post-primary education.
Foundation Stage covers years 1 and 2
Key Stage 1 covers years 3 and 4
Key Stage 2 covers years 5 to 7
Key Stage 3 covers years 8 to 10
Key Stage 4 covers years 11 and 12.
Q. When do children start school in Northern Ireland?
A. Northern Ireland has the earliest compulsory school starting date in the UK, and one of the earliest in Europe: children start school in September if they have reached the age of 4 by the previous 1st July, and so are aged 4 years and 2 months to 5 years and 2 months on starting.
Q. Can I defer my child’s school starting age?
A. The only provision in education legislation which allows a child to be retained in a nursery school, and not commence primary school upon reaching compulsory school age, is under Article 16 of the Education (NI) Order 1996 (Statement of Special Educational Needs). Therefore, where it is necessary for a Board to determine the special educational provision for a child in a Statement of Special Educational Needs the Board may name a nursery school in Part 4 of the Statement, as the placement necessary to meet the needs identified, even if the child is of primary school age.
Q. At what age can a pupil leave post-primary education?
A. Current legislation governing compulsory school age is based on the premise that all children and young people in Northern Ireland should have at least 12 years of education at school i.e. 7 yrs of primary education and 5 yrs of post-primary education and the opportunity to obtain school leaving qualifications. For example a pupil who reaches the age of 16 on or between 1st September and 1st July in the same school year, can leave school on 30 June in that school year. A pupil who reaches the age of 16 between 2 July and 31 August in the same year, cannot leave school until 30 June in the next calendar year.
Pupils may continue their education at school between the ages of 16 and 18 if they meet the school’s admissions criteria for sixth form entry.
Q. Where can I obtain information on the Northern Ireland Curriculum?
A The Minimum Content Order PDF 209 KB specifies the Minimum Content for each area of learning of the curriculum at each key stage.
More detailed information and support in relation to the areas of learning at each key stage is available on the NI Curriculum website.
Q. Does my child have to study RE?
A. Under Article 21(5) of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986, parents have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of collective worship and/or RE lessons on the grounds of conscience.
[Regulation 6 and Schedule 3 of the Education (School Information and Prospectuses) Regulations (NI) 2003 (SR 2003 No.378) require schools to publish information in their schools prospectuses about RE provided at the school and any arrangements for the exercise by parents of their rights of conscience.]
Q. Does my child have to take RE at GCSE?
A. All schools are required to include RE as part of the curriculum for all pupils from Foundation stage to Key Stage 4. It is up to individual Boards of Governors of schools to decide if they wish to make it compulsory for their pupils to take RE at GCSE level. To inform parents/pupils, schools are required to include details of their RE provision and the ethos of the school in their school prospectus.
Q. Where can I obtain a copy of my exam certificate?
A. Copies of Senior and Junior certificates issued between 1947 and 1962 can be obtained from the Department at a cost of £3.75, contact 028 9127 9543. For copies of certificates issued between 1963 and 1971 you should contact the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) – Telephone local:028 9126 1200, international:+44 (0)28 9126 1200
For copies of GCE and GCSE certificates you should also contact the CCEA.
Q. What is my qualification equivalent to in Northern Ireland?
A. The CCEA are responsible for equivalences of examinations and can be contacted on Telephone local:028 9126 1206, international:+44 (0)28 9126 1206
