Education Minister Paul Givan has announced sweeping reforms to CCEA GCSE and A Level qualifications in what he has described as a “once-in-a-generation” overhaul of the exams system in Northern Ireland.
The changes form a new policy framework developed following a comprehensive public consultation and are a central plank of the Department of Education’s TransformED strategy to improve teaching and learning.
Key measures include:
– Reducing subject content and assessment so pupils can focus on deeper mastery and understanding of core concepts, with more time to “explore, understand, and enjoy learning”.
– Replacing the current AS/A2 structure with a new modular A Level made up of three units of assessment taken over two years – a move the Department says will significantly cut the total number of exams.
– Cutting back controlled assessment and coursework in most subjects, except where it is essential to assess practical skills.
Mr Givan said the reforms were aimed at reducing stress on young people, improving the quality of education and ensuring qualifications remain “relevant and effective”.
He 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 developing new GCSE and A Level specifications over the coming years, with the earliest changes to teaching expected from September 2029. Schools will receive “full support, training, and guidance” as the new framework is rolled out, the Department has said.
Mr Givan 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for improved outcomes for our children and young people; prioritising depth over volume and long-term success over outdated structures.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. They will be good for pupils, good for teachers, and good for Northern Ireland.”
The Minister’s full oral statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly is available on the Department of Education website at:
https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/oral-statement-future-ccea-gcses-levels-and-levels-3-march-2026
The new policy framework can be read in full at:
https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/policy-framework-general-qualifications-northern-ireland
