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  • Response by the Department of Education to the Independent Review of Statutory Assessment

    Topics:
    • Curriculum and learning, 
    • Curriculum and assessment

    Date published: 15 April 2026

    On 15 April the Department published two major documents that set a new direction for how we assess, understand and support pupil learning: the Department’s Response to the Independent Review of Statutory Assessment and the new Policy Framework for Statutory Assessment.

    The Department has accepted all ten recommendations from the Review, including the removal of Levels of Progression; the creation of a statutory assessment pathway; the development of optional adaptive assessments; the introduction of the Writing Repository; and major strengthening of assessment training in Initial Teacher Education and ongoing professional development. This represents the most significant update to statutory assessment policy in more than two decades and aligns Northern Ireland with best practice internationally.

    Documents

    • Response by the Department of Education to the Independent Review of Statutory Assessment Adobe PDF (575.42 KB)

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