To ask the Minister of Education for an update on (i) the action contained within his TransformED Delivery plan to initiate a review of all qualifications approved for teaching in Northern Ireland schools and review the process for qualifications approval; and (ii) any cost incurred as a result of this action.

All the actions relating to qualifications within the TransformED strategy are being taken forward as part of the Department’s ongoing programme of qualifications reform.

In March 2026 the Department published the new policy framework for general qualifications. Details of the extensive consultation, engagement and research that informed this policy framework are set out in the consultation report, which was published in February 2026 and is available on the Department’s website; https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-02/Consultation Report - The Future of CCEA GCSE AS and A Level Qualifications_0.pdf.

CCEA is now taking forward work to reform its GCSE and A level qualifications in line with this framework. As part of revising specifications, CCEA will be asked to consider opportunities for innovation in assessments, including digital assessments.

The Department’s TransformED Annual Progress Report and Updated Delivery Plan, published in May 2026 is available at the following link TransformED Progress Report v2.pdf, and highlights plans to consult later this year on a policy framework for vocational qualifications delivered in schools. Qualifications approved for teaching in schools, and the associated qualifications approvals process, will be reviewed once this policy framework is in place.

The total cost of delivering this work to date is £67k.