Qualifications
This section provides information on the qualifications system in Northern Ireland.
Performance Measures/NI Entitlement Framework Qualifications Accreditation Number (NIEFQAN) File
All qualifications that have been approved for use in schools in Northern Ireland will appear in the NIEFQAN file. The NIEFQAN file shows details of GCSE Guided Learning Hours (GLHs) size equivalences for level 1 and level 2 qualifications, and A-level Guided Learning Hours (GLHs) size equivalences for qualifications at level 3.
The system is designed to enable schools to report their performance. The information on GLHs/size equivalency applies only to the allocation of school performance points.
It is not intended for use in relation to the equivalency of qualifications for employment and/or further/higher education purposes.
The 2025/26 NIEFQAN file, which takes account of the recent changes to performance points, is now available and lists all qualifications which have been approved for use in schools and which are available to teach in the 2025/26 academic year.
Qualifications which are available for teaching this year (2024/25) but which will be closed to new learners next academic year (2025/26) will not be listed on the updated NIEFQAN file. These qualifications will still be available for teaching up until their certification end date. It may be the case that some schools are in the midst of completing these qualifications and will be certificating later in the year or indeed the next year. Systems will be in place to allow schools to enter results for qualifications up until the certification end date of the qualification.
DE Circular Number 2025/01 - Approval of Qualifications for Delivery by Post-Primary Schools in Northern Ireland
DE Circular 2025/01 sets out the process and criteria which are applied to approve qualifications for use in Post-primary schools in NI. It also provides details on how the NIEFQAN file should be used.
From 16 September to 25 October 2024 the Department carried out a targeted consultation with post-primary schools and special schools regarding proposed changes to how qualifications are counted for system level performance measures. The consultation was hosted on the NI Direct consultations webpage. The consultation set out three proposals and those responding were asked to indicate the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with each proposal. A free text box was also included to enable feedback on the rationale for the responses given. A summary of the feedback is provided in the link below.
Joint Council for Qualifications - JCQCIC
JCQCIC is the organisation representing the awarding bodies offering the majority of qualifications on offer in the UK. It helps the awarding bodies to create common standards and guidance on issues such as access arrangements and special consideration. Further details can be found at: