Duties relating to the curriculumN.I.
Determination of curriculum policy and of curriculumN.I.
12.—(1) The scheme of management for every grant-aided school shall provide for it to be the duty of the Board of Governors—
(a)to determine, and keep under review, its policy in relation to the curriculum for the school; and
(b)to make, and keep up to date, a written statement of that policy.
(2) The policy determined by a Board of Governors under paragraph (1)(a) in relation to the curriculum for a school shall be compatible with—
(a)any minimum content specified under Article 7(1) which forms part of that curriculum;
(b)any specification for a course of study which forms part of that curriculum and leads to an examination for a qualification approved under Article 81 of the 1998 Order; and
(c)the statutory provisions relating to education (including, in particular, those relating to children with special educational needs).
(3) In discharging its duty under paragraph (1), a Board of Governors shall consider, in particular—
(a)the range of the curriculum; and
(b)the balance between, and coherence of, its different components.
(4) The scheme of management for every grant-aided school shall provide for it to be the duty of the Board of Governors—
(a)when determining or reviewing its policy in relation to the curriculum for the school—
(i)to take account of the findings of any inspection of the school under Article 102 of the 1986 Order;
(ii)to consider any representations made to it regarding the curriculum by [F1the Authority] , the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (where the school is a Catholic maintained school) and any other body or person connected with the community served by the school;
(b)to consult the principal of the school before making or varying any statement under paragraph (1)(b).
(5) The scheme of management for every grant-aided school shall provide for the principal to be allocated such functions as will, subject to the resources available, enable him to determine and organise the curriculum and secure that it is followed within the school.
(6) In discharging his duties in relation to the curriculum for a school the principal shall ensure that the curriculum is compatible with the policy of the Board of Governors as expressed in its statement under paragraph (1)(b).
(7) In carrying out its functions under the Education Orders or any other statutory provision in relation to a school under its management, a Board of Governors shall have regard to its policy in relation to the curriculum for the school, as expressed in its statement under paragraph (1)(b).
(8) The Board of Governors of a grant-aided school shall send a copy of every statement made by it under paragraph (1)(b) to—
(a)[F2the Authority] ; and
(b)if the school is a Catholic maintained school, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in art. 12(4)(a)(ii) substituted (1.4.2015) by Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (c. 12), Sch. 3 para. 25(1) (with Sch. 2 para. 4(3)); S.R. 2015/35, art. 2(b)
F2Words in art. 12(8)(a) substituted (1.4.2015) by Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (c. 12), Sch. 3 para. 25(1) (with Sch. 2 para. 4(3)); S.R. 2015/35, art. 2(b)
Duties with respect to requirements of this PartN.I.
13.—(1) In relation to any grant-aided school and any school year, it shall be the duty of the Board of Governors to exercise its functions with a view to securing and the duty of the principal to secure—
(a)that religious education is given in accordance with the provision for such education included in the school's curriculum by virtue of Article 5(1)(a);
(b)that the minimum content for each area of learning is taught as required by the school's curriculum as subsisting at the beginning of that year;
(c)that pupils are assessed as required by Article 9(1).
(2) In relation to any grant-aided school and any time before the coming into operation of an order under Article 7(2) specifying minimum content in relation to a particular area of learning and pupils in a key stage, it shall be the duty of the Board of Governors to exercise its functions with a view to securing and the duty of the principal to secure that knowledge, understanding and skills falling within that area of learning are taught to pupils in that key stage for a reasonable time.
(3) It shall be the duty of—
(a)the Department and [F3the Authority] in relation to all grant-aided schools;
(b)the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools in relation to Catholic maintained schools,
to exercise their functions with a view to ensuring that the Boards of Governors and principals of grant-aided schools are in a position to fulfil their duties under the preceding provisions of this Part.
Textual Amendments
F3Words in Order substituted (1.4.2015) by Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (c. 12), Sch. 3 para. 1(1)(a) (with Sch. 2 para. 4(3), Sch. 3 para. 1(2)); S.R. 2015/35, art. 2(b)