The Education (1996 Order) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This order brings into operation provisions of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 relating to the Northern Ireland Curriculum.

From 1st August 1996, new arrangements relating to programmes of study and assessment arrangements for key stage 4 will be brought into force, and a new list of compulsory subjects will be introduced to replace Schedule 2 of the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989. In addition, certain subjects will be introduced into and transferred to the Environment and Society area of study.

This Order brings into operation on 1st September 1996 Article 40 and Schedule 4 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 relating to the limited incorporation of Boards of Governors of grant-aided schools with the sole purpose of securing members against personal liability in the performance of their duties.

This Order also brings into operation from 1st September 1996 Articles 31 and 34 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996: Article 31 transfers to the appropriate Boards of Governors (or, in the case of a pupil who is not registered at any school, to the education and library board for the area) responsibility for deciding that a child should commence secondary education either one year earlier or one year later than his normal date of commencement; Article 34 amends the definition of “key stages” in the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.