Education Minister has announced a major new policy
framework for CCEA GCSE and A level qualifications.
The framework has been developed following a comprehensive public
consultation on proposed changes that are a key part of the
TransformED strategy to improve teaching and learning across
Northern Ireland.
Key reforms include:
- Reducing content and assessment to allow deeper mastery and
understanding of key concepts within subjects, giving pupils more
time to explore, understand, and enjoy learning.
- A new modular A Level with three units of assessment taken
over two years will replace the current approach which includes
AS levels, significantly cutting the total number of exams.
- Controlled assessment and coursework will be reduced in most
subjects, except where it is essential to assess practical
skills.
Outlining the reforms, which are designed to reduce stress on
young people, enhance the quality of education and ensure
qualifications remain relevant and effective, the Minister said:
“Our young people deserve an education that is ambitious and
rigorous, but also supportive and balanced. Too often, the system
has become dominated by teaching to the test, leading to stress,
anxiety, and lost opportunities for genuine depth in learning.
These reforms reduce unnecessary exams, give back precious
teaching time, and focus on what truly matters for future
success.
"Northern Ireland pupils currently take far more exams than their
peers in England to achieve the same qualifications due to the AS
structure. These reforms address this unfairness and practices
like using AS results to gatekeep Year 14 entry. They place
learning, not testing, at the heart of education.
“Reducing controlled assessment and coursework will also help
address workload burdens, equity issues, and the impact of AI on
take-home tasks.”
Work will now begin on development of new specifications over the
next number of years with earliest changes to teaching expected
from September 2029. Full support, training, and guidance
will be provided to schools as this work moves forward.
concluded: "This is a
once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a qualifications system
that is built on international evidence for improved outcomes for
our children and young people; prioritising depth over volume and
long-term success over outdated structures. These changes will
create a coherent, modern, evidence‑informed system designed for
Northern Ireland. They will be good for pupils, good for
teachers, and good for Northern Ireland.”
The Minister's Oral statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly is
available at - https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/oral-statement-future-ccea-gcses-levels-and-levels-3-march-2026
The new policy framework is available at - https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/policy-framework-general-qualifications-northern-ireland
