The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

Interpretation

Interpretation: the curriculum

3.—(1) In this Part—

“area of learning” shall be construed in accordance with Article 6(1);

“assess” includes examine and test;

“assessment arrangements” means arrangements for assessing pupils in a school year for the purpose of ascertaining what they have achieved in that year;

“contributory element”, in relation to an area of learning, has the meaning given by Article 6(2);

“cross-curricular skill” means a skill listed in Article 8(2);

“directions” means directions in writing;

“key stage”, or references to a particular key stage, shall be construed in accordance with paragraph (3);

“levels of progression” means levels determined for the purpose of measuring the progress of pupils in the development of a cross-curricular skill;

“minimum content”, in relation to an area of learning and a key stage, means the knowledge, understanding and skills within that area of learning which are required to be taught to pupils of different abilities and maturities during that stage;

“NICCEA” means the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment;

“relevant board” in relation to a grant-aided school, means the board for the area in which the school is situated;

“school year” means a year ending on 31st July;

“skill” includes any personal capability.

(2) For the purposes of this Part a school is an Irish speaking school if more than one half of the teaching of—

(a) religious education; and

(b) the minimum content of the areas of learning other than that called Language and literacy,

is conducted (wholly or partly) in Irish, and “school” includes part of a school.

(3) For the purpose of this Part the key stages in relation to a pupil are as follows—

(a) the foundation stage is the period beginning with his becoming of compulsory school age and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class complete two school years in that stage;

(b) key stage 1 is the period beginning at the same time as the next school year after the end of the foundation stage and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class complete two school years in that key stage;

(c) key stage 2 is the period beginning at the same time as the next school year after the end of key stage 1 and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class complete three school years in that key stage;

(d) key stage 3 is the period beginning at the same time as the next school year after the end of key stage 2 and ending at the same time as the school year in which the majority of pupils in his class complete three school years in that key stage;

(e) key stage 4 is the period beginning at the same time as the next school year after the end of key stage 3 and ending at the same time as he ceases to be of compulsory school age.

(4) In paragraph (3) “class”, in relation to a particular pupil, means the teaching group in which he is regularly taught or, where there are two or more such groups, such one of them as may be designated by the principal of the school.

(5) The Department may by order amend paragraph (3).

(6) For the purposes of this Part Irish is to be treated as an official language of the European Union at any time before 1st January 2007 (on which date it becomes an official language).