Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as The Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 and shall come into operation as set out in Schedule 1.

Specification of Minimum Content

2.  The Minimum Content for the area of learning at each Key Stage is specified in Schedule 2.

Article 1

SCHEDULE 1 Commencement

The provisions of this Order shall come into operation for pupils in each year of each key stage on 1^st August of the school year shown in the following table:

Article 2

SCHEDULE 2 Specification of Minimum Content

PART 1 Statutory Requirements Relating to the Curriculum

The statutory Northern Ireland Curriculum from Foundation Stage to Key Stage 4

is a balanced and broadly based curriculum which—

(a) promotes the spiritual, emotional, moral, cultural, intellectual and physical development of pupils at the school and thereby of society; and

(b) prepares such pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life by equipping them with appropriate knowledge, understanding and skills.

In order to meet their statutory requirements, schools must provide learning opportunities in relation to the following:

(a) Religious Education – in accordance with the core syllabus drafted by the four main Christian Churches in Northern Ireland and specified by the Department of Education.

(b) the following Areas of Learning:

Minimum Content

The Minimum Content for each Area of Learning and Key Stage means the knowledge, understanding and skills within that Area of Learning which are required to be taught to pupils of different abilities and maturities during that stage.