The Education Reform(Northern Ireland) Order 1989

Functions of the Northern Ireland Curriculum Council

19.—(1) The Northern Ireland Curriculum Council shall—

(a) keep all aspects of the curriculum for grant-aided schools under review;

(b) advise the Department on such matters concerned with the curriculum for grant-aided schools as the Department may refer to it or as it may see fit;

(c) publish and distribute, or secure or assist the publication and distribution by another body or person of, information relating to the curriculum for grant-aided schools;

(d) carry out such other activities as the Department may direct, being activities which the Department considers to be appropriate for the Council to carry out for the purpose of, or in connection with, the exercise of any of its other functions under this Article.

(2) Where the Department proposes to exercise the power conferred by Article 7(1) to set in place or revise any programme of study or attainment target for any listed contributory subject or the power conferred by Article 8(2) to set in place or revise objectives for any educational theme, the Department may refer the proposal to the Council.

(3) Where a proposal is referred to the Council under paragraph (2) the Council shall, before such date as the Department may direct,—

(a) consult, with regard to the proposal, with such bodies or persons as appear to the Council to be concerned; and

(b) make a report to the Department containing—

(i) a summary of the views expressed during the consultations;

(ii) the Council’s recommendations as to the proposal; and

(iii) such other advice relating to the proposal as the Council thinks fit.

(4) The Council may, in connection with the exercise of any of its functions, and shall if the Department so directs, carry out, or commission, or assist in any way, the carrying out by another body or person of, any programme of research and development for purposes connected with the curriculum for grant-aided schools.

(5) The Department may by order provide that paragraphs (1) and (4) shall have effect as if references to the curriculum for grant-aided schools included references to courses of further education in institutions of further education.