An introduction to curriculum and assessment

Curriculum and assessment orders

The curriculum applies to all 12 years of compulsory education.

You can access the orders, which set out the curriculum and assessment arrangements, the other skills and the transitional reporting arrangements below:

• Minimum content
• Assessment arrangements
• Other skills
• Pupil reporting

Curriculum, examination and assessment circulars

These circulars provide guidance on specific matters.

• Curriculum, examination and assessment circulars

Assessment arrangements to support the curriculum

Following consultation, the broad principles of the statutory assessment arrangements to support the curriculum (including the levels of progression for the cross-curricular skills) were agreed.

• New end of key stage assessment arrangements - letter to schools - 30 January 2013
• The Education (Levels of Progression for Key Stages 1, 2 and 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
• Letter to schools - 17 December 2012

Delivery of the curriculum and handling of complaints from parents and other parties

• Circular 2016/18 – The Complaints Tribunal (Curriculum and Related Matters) Regulations 2016

Languages for the future - Northern Ireland languages strategy

• Final report