The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

The Further Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (NI 15)

14.  After Article 17 insert—

“Provision of information

17A.— (1) The Department may make regulations requiring the governing body or the principal of an institution of further education to make available either generally or to prescribed persons, in such form and at such times as may be prescribed, such information relating to—

(a) the external qualifications (within the meaning of Article 81 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998) for which courses of study are to be provided by or on behalf of the institution concerned for students under the age of 19 who are in full time attendance at the institution;

(b) the courses of study leading to such qualifications which are to be so provided;

(c) the specifications which have been provided or determined for the purposes of those courses; and

(d) the results of the assessments of such students for the purposes of those qualifications,

as may be prescribed.

(2) The Department may make regulations requiring the governing body or the principal of an institution of further education to make available either generally or to prescribed persons, in such form and at such times as may be prescribed, such information as may be prescribed relating to the results of the assessments of pupils for whom secondary education is provided at the institution in pursuance of arrangements under Article 21 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.

(3) Regulations under paragraph (1)(d) or (2) shall not require information as to the results of an assessment of a student or pupil to be made available to any persons or bodies other than—

(a) the student or pupil concerned and his parents;

(b) the governing body of the institution or school attended by the student or pupil concerned; or

(c) a body or person prescribed by the regulations,

and shall not require such information to be made available to any body or person mentioned in sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) except where necessary for the purposes of the performance by that body or person of any functions under this Order or the Education Orders (as defined in the 1986 Order).

(4) Regulations under this Article may authorise governing bodies and principals to make a charge (not exceeding the cost of supply) for any documents supplied by them in pursuance of the regulations.

(5) Before making any regulations under this Article the Department shall consult with—

(a) the governing bodies and principals of all institutions of further education; and

(b) any other persons with whom consultation appears to it to be desirable.”.