Statutory Instrument 1998 No. (N.I. )

Statutory Instrument 1998 No. (N.I. )
Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 - continued

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PART III
ASSESSMENT AND PUPILS' PERFORMANCE

CHAPTER I
BASELINE ASSESSMENTS
Introductory
7. - (1) In this Chapter -

"baseline assessment scheme" means a scheme designed to enable pupils at a primary school to be assessed for the purpose of assisting the future planning of their education and the measurement of their future educational achievements;

"school year" means a year ending on 31st July.

(2) References in this Chapter to the baseline assessment scheme applicable to a school are references -

    (3) For the purposes of this Chapter the first year of compulsory education of a child is the school year in which he attains the lower limit of compulsory school age.

Assessment of pupils in accordance with baseline assessment arrangements
     8. - (1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, all pupils at a primary school who are in their first year of compulsory education must be assessed in accordance with the baseline assessment scheme applicable to the school.

    (2) The assessment must be completed before the end of that first year.

    (3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a pupil if it appears to the principal from a record of a previous assessment under that paragraph that such an assessment has already been carried out in relation to that pupil at another school.

    (4) Regulations may enable the principal of a primary school, in such cases or circumstances and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, to direct -

(a) that paragraph (1) is not to apply to a particular pupil at the school; or

(b) that, for the purposes of the assessment under that paragraph of a particular pupil at the school, the baseline assessment scheme applicable to the school is to have effect with such modifications as are specified in the direction.

(5) The special educational provision for any pupil specified in a statement under Article 16 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 of his special educational needs may include provision directing -

(a) that paragraph (1) is not to apply to the pupil; or

(b) that, for the purposes of the assessment under that paragraph of that pupil, the baseline assessment scheme applicable to the school is to have effect with such modifications as are specified in the direction.

(6) Where the principal gives a direction under regulations made under paragraph (4) he shall -

(a) notify the Board of Governors of the matters set out in paragraph (7); and

(b) take such steps as are prescribed to notify the parent of the pupil concerned of those matters.

(7) The matters referred to in paragraph (6) are -

(a) the fact that the principal has given the direction in question and his reasons for doing so;

(b) in the case of a direction under paragraph (4)(b), the effect of the modifications specified in the direction;

(c) whether the direction is to have permanent effect (and, if not, the period for which it is to have effect).

(8) In relation to any primary school, it shall be the duty of -

(a) the Board of Governors to exercise its functions with a view to securing; and

(b) the principal to secure,

that paragraph (1) is complied with.

(9) It shall be the duty of -

(a) the Department and the boards in relation to all primary schools; and

(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 primary schools are in a position to fulfil their duty under paragraph (8).

(10) The Department may by regulations provide that the preceding provisions of this Article -

(a) shall apply with such modifications as may be prescribed; or

(b) shall not apply,

in such circumstances as may be prescribed.

Arrangements for baseline assessment
9. - (1) The Department shall by order specify the arrangements for baseline assessment.

(2) An order under paragraph (1) shall include provision for either -

(a) a single baseline assessment scheme specified in the order to apply to all primary school with pupils who are required to be assessed under Article 8; or

(b) the Board of Governors of each primary school with pupils who are required to be assessed under Article 8 to adopt a scheme for the school from among schemes specified in the order.

(3) An order under paragraph (1) may instead of containing the provision to be made, refer to provisions in an approved document and direct that those provisions are to have effect or, as the case may be, are to have effect as amended by the order.

(4) In paragraph (3) "approved document" means a document which has been -

(a) prepared by the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment ("the Council");

(b) approved by the Department; and

(c) published by the Council.

(5) It shall be the duty of the Council to send to the Board of Governors of every primary school with pupils who are required to be assessed under Article 8 a copy of every document published by it under paragraph (4)(c).

(6) An order under paragraph (1) may impose such duties on -

(a) the Boards of Governors and principals of primary schools; and

(b) the Council,

as appear to the Department to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of implementing the arrangements specified by the order.


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