Applications sought for DE appointed members to the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools and its Diocesan Education Committees

Date published: 1 September 2026

The Department of Education has launched a combined public appointments competition to appoint four members to the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment (CCEA) and two members to the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).

This will also include nine appointments to the Diocesan Education Committees (DECs) located in; Armagh (three members); Clogher and Kilmore (two members); Derry (one member); Down and Connor (two members); and Dromore (one member).

Launching the competition, Education Minister Paul Givan said: 

"These roles offer people a unique opportunity to help shape the future direction of education in Northern Ireland.

"Serving as a board member of CCEA or CCMS is a chance to bring your professional expertise, provide strategic leadership and independent challenge, and play a meaningful role in that work."

CCEA is the main education body in Northern Ireland setting educational standards and is responsible for the curriculum, examinations and qualifications. CCEA is responsible for keeping under review all aspects of the curriculum, examinations and assessment for schools including developing, conducting and moderating qualifications and assessments, and developing resources to support the implementation of the curriculum.

Acting as non-executive members, the council member’s role is to provide strategic leadership, governance and oversight, helping to set the organisation's direction, monitor performance, ensure accountability and good governance, and support CCEA in delivering its responsibilities for curriculum development, examinations, assessments and qualifications in Northern Ireland.

CCMS is a DE sponsored non-departmental public body, and is responsible for developing and promoting, in conjunction with the Trustees of Catholic maintained schools, quality education within the Catholic maintained sector.  CCMS DECs are committees of CCMS which have responsibility for the Catholic maintained school sector. DECs provide advice to the CCMS Council regarding its policies and implementation and exercise many of the Council’s operational and representational responsibilities.

The Council member’s role is to contribute to the development of the CCMS strategy; ensuring that it is consistent with the Minister’s priorities and DE aims and objectives. It will challenge and support the decision-making processes of the Council; and contribute to the work associated with the discharge of CCMS’s statutory functions.

The Minister continued: 

"My vision is for a modern, forward-looking education system, underpinned by sustainable funding, robust evidence and evaluation, and informed by international best practice. If you share this vision and want to make a positive difference for children and young people, I encourage you to apply."

Details on the selection criteria, the role responsibilities and time commitment are set out in the Information Booklet which is part of the application pack: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/public-appointment-opportunities 

The closing date for receipt of applications is 4.00pm BST on Thursday 17 September 2026.