Education Minister has launched a public
consultation on plans to improve the GCSE, AS and A level
qualifications offered by CCEA.
The consultation sets out detailed proposals for change
including:
- Reducing the content of qualifications to support deeper
learning.
- Reducing the number of exams students are required to take.
- Moving most qualifications to a linear structure, so exams
are taken at the end of the two-year course allowing more time
for teaching and learning.
- Removing AS levels and moving to a two-year A level
structure.
- Removing controlled / internal assessments, where possible,
to reduce the burden on students and teachers.
- Aligning the CCEA GCSE grading scale with England's 9–1 scale
to improve clarity and recognition.
Launching the public consultation, said: “I am committed to
ensuring that qualifications in Northern Ireland remain relevant
and aligned to the needs of our students, as they progress into
further study, employment or training.
“The changes that I am proposing aim to ensure
qualifications developed in Northern Ireland support high-quality
teaching and learning. They will remove unnecessary pressure by
reducing the number of exams that students sit and reduce the
workload burden on teachers whilst maintaining standards that are
recognised nationally and internationally.”
The Minister continued: “Education is the cornerstone of
opportunity, aspiration and progress and it is essential that the
qualifications available to young people reflect the evolving
needs of learners, the economy and society. It is therefore
crucial that they remain fit for purpose and responsive to the
demands of the modern world.
“I am grateful to our school leaders who have helped
shape these proposals and I would encourage all those with an
interest in education to now respond to the
consultation.”
The consultation will run from 18 September to 13 November 2025
and can be found here – https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-future-ccea-qualifications.
Notes to editors:
1. CCEA is the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and
Assessment. It is a non-departmental public body funded by and
responsible to the Department of Education.
2. CCEA is legally required to review its qualifications
regularly and this is shaped by the Department's Qualifications
Policy Framework.
