An Evaluation of the Implementation of the Northern Ireland Curriculum in Post-Primary Schools

Abstract

This report presents the Inspectorate’s findings of a survey of the implementation of the Northern Ireland Curriculum (NIC) within schools in the secondary sector. The report is based on evidence from the 45 schools. The evidence was gathered by the District Inspectors (DIs) during planned district visits (DVs) to the schools. The visits took place during the first term of the 1998/99 academic year. During these visits, inspectors held discussions with principals, members of the senior management team (SMT), teachers and pupils; they observed 241 lessons in a range of subjects and examined curriculum documentation and samples of the pupils’ work. The survey was also informed by a preliminary exercise in which curricular data from a sample of 48 schools was collected and analysed; of these schools, 39 were included in the DV survey.