Post-16
Qualifications
At post-16, young people can choose from a number of qualifications that we offer at Level 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework, including GCE A levels.

The Development Pathway
Pre-School
Age 3–4 / Before Year 1
Pre-school education offers children one year of non-compulsory education. Children learn at their own pace through a breadth of learning experiences and challenging play activities in a stimulating environment.
Foundation Stage
Age 4–6
Primary school Years 1 and 2 make up the Foundation Stage. Children build on the learning experiences that they bring to school from home and/or pre-school. They learn through well-planned, challenging play that develops their interests, curiosity and creativity.
Key Stages 1 & 2
Age 6–11
Key Stage 1 (primary school Years 3 and 4) builds on Foundation Stage experiences, and Key Stage 2 (primary school Years 5, 6 and 7) builds on Key Stage 1 experiences. As children progress through these stages, they move from informal to more formal learning.
Key Stage 3
Age 11–14
At Key Stage 3 (post-primary Years 8, 9 and 10), the curriculum builds on the learning experiences that pupils bring from primary school. Pupils now attend classes in different subjects, and teachers typically teach specific subjects to pupils across the different Years.
Key Stage 4
Age 14–16 / Qualifications
At Key Stage 4 (post-primary Years 11 and 12), pupils build on their learning from Key Stage 3. Pupils meet the statutory curriculum requirements through compulsory Areas of Learning and optional courses that lead to general and/or applied qualifications.
Post-16
Qualifications
At post-16, young people can choose from a number of qualifications that we offer at Level 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework, including GCE A levels.
Featured Learning Resources
Topic Tracker
Topic Tracker is a free resource designed to improve and introduce innovative support for GCE Maths & GCSE Maths & Science.
KS4P16GENEngIMMoving Image Arts Showcase
The following films have been screened in front of live audiences at our annual Moving Image Arts Awards Showcase. This unique event has been running
KS4P16GENEngMoving Image Arts Case Studies
Case studies from Danny Boyle, Paul Greeengrass and Seamus McGarvy
KS4P16GENEng
Latest News
CCEA has now published the guidance and process for schools and colleges on how the alternative awarding arrangements for Summer 2021 CCEA’s Occupational Studies, Vocational Qualifications and Entry Level Qualifications will operate following the cancellation of this year’s exams by the Minister of Education, Peter Weir MLA.
Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) Release Guidance on GCSE and AS/A level Awarding Process
Most students in Northern Ireland take GCSE and AS/A Level qualifications with CCEA. Guidance for CCEA qualifications was published on 5 March 2021. However, there are students who also take qualifications with AQA, WJEC/Eduqas, OCR and Pearson. These qualifications will follow JCQ published guidance which was released on 26 March 2021.
CCEA’s GCE Teacher Support Guidance for Summer 2021 Awarding available online
As of today, all 30 GCE teacher support guidance documents for Summer 2021 alternative awarding arrangements are now available to view online. This follows the release of CCEA’s Summer 2021: Alternative Arrangements – Process for Heads of Centre earlier this month.
Past CCEA Events
There are currently no events scheduled due to Corona Virus (COVID-19). Here are some that CCEA recently held: