Reforms to GCSEs and A Levels in Northern Ireland a 'once-in-a-generation' opportunity - Education Minister
Education Minister, Paul Givan has announced a major new policy framework for CCEA GCSE and A level qualifications – including scrapping AS Levels.
The framework has been developed following a comprehensive public consultation on proposed changes that are a key part of the TransformED strategy to improve teaching and learning across Northern Ireland.
Key reforms include:
- Reducing content and assessment to allow deeper mastery and understanding of key concepts within subjects, giving pupils more time to explore, understand, and enjoy learning;
- A new modular A Level with three units of assessment taken over two years will replace the current approach which includes AS levels, significantly cutting the total number of exams;
- Controlled assessment and coursework will be reduced in most subjects, except where essential to assess practical skills.
Outlining the reforms, which are designed to reduce stress on young people, enhance the quality of education and ensure qualifications remain relevant and effective, the Minister said: “Our young people deserve an education that is ambitious and rigorous, but also supportive and balanced.
"Too often, the system has become dominated by teaching to the test, leading to stress, anxiety, and lost opportunities for genuine depth in learning. These reforms reduce unnecessary exams, give back precious teaching time, and focus on what truly matters for future success.
"Northern Ireland pupils currently take far more exams than their peers in England to achieve the same qualifications due to the AS structure. These reforms address this unfairness and practices like using AS results to gatekeep Year 14 entry. They place learning, not testing, at the heart of education.
“Reducing controlled assessment and coursework will also help address workload burdens, equity issues, and the impact of AI on take-home tasks.”
Work will now begin on development of new specifications over the next number of years with earliest changes to teaching expected from September 2029.
Full support, training, and guidance will be provided to schools as this work moves forward.
The new policy framework is available at https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/policy-framework-general-qualifications-northern-ireland
The Minister added: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a qualifications system that is built on international evidence for improved outcomes for our children and young people; prioritising depth over volume and long-term success over outdated structures. These changes will create a coherent, modern, evidence‑informed system designed for Northern Ireland.”