Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment
Encyclopedia
The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment (CCEA) (Irish
Comhairle Curaclaim, Scrúdúcháin agus Mheasúnaithe) is an examination board
in Northern Ireland
. As well as setting examinations, the CCEA advises the government
on what should be taught in Northern Ireland's schools, and monitors the standard of qualifications and examinations in Northern Ireland.
CCEA was established as a state body in 1994 and is based in Belfast
. It replaced the Northern Ireland Schools Examination and Assessment Council and the Northern Ireland Schools Examination Council.
Although CCEA is the only examination board
based in Northern Ireland to award GCSE and A-level qualifications, schools in Northern Ireland can enter their students for examinations regulated by any UK Examinations Board. 70% of GCSE and 66% of GCE exams taken by students in Northern Ireland
are set by CCEA. The remainder are set by the four English and Welsh awarding bodies.
A small number of schools in England and Wales also use the CCEA examination board.
In general conversation among staff and students in schools, CCEA is commonly called 'See-ah'. This has become more popular since the introduction of the current logo.
In contrast with AQA
, Edexcel
, OCR
or WJEC whose main functions are setting GCSE and A-level public examinations and related courses, CCEA advises government on what should be taught and assessed in Primary Schools and post primary schools in Northern Ireland
. It used to set the Eleven Plus
examinations in Northern Ireland
on behalf of the Department of Education
.
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
Comhairle Curaclaim, Scrúdúcháin agus Mheasúnaithe) is an examination board
Examination board
An examination board is an organisation that sets examinations and is responsible for marking them and distributing results. Examination boards have the power to award qualifications, such as SAT scores, to students...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. As well as setting examinations, the CCEA advises the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
on what should be taught in Northern Ireland's schools, and monitors the standard of qualifications and examinations in Northern Ireland.
CCEA was established as a state body in 1994 and is based in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. It replaced the Northern Ireland Schools Examination and Assessment Council and the Northern Ireland Schools Examination Council.
Although CCEA is the only examination board
Examination board
An examination board is an organisation that sets examinations and is responsible for marking them and distributing results. Examination boards have the power to award qualifications, such as SAT scores, to students...
based in Northern Ireland to award GCSE and A-level qualifications, schools in Northern Ireland can enter their students for examinations regulated by any UK Examinations Board. 70% of GCSE and 66% of GCE exams taken by students in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
are set by CCEA. The remainder are set by the four English and Welsh awarding bodies.
A small number of schools in England and Wales also use the CCEA examination board.
In general conversation among staff and students in schools, CCEA is commonly called 'See-ah'. This has become more popular since the introduction of the current logo.
In contrast with AQA
Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
AQA is an Awarding Body in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It compiles specifications and holds examinations in various subjects at GCSE, AS and A Level and offers vocational qualifications. AQA is a registered charity and independent of the Government...
, Edexcel
Edexcel
Edexcel, a UK company, is one of England, Wales and Northern Ireland's five main examination boards, and is wholly owned by the private-sector Pearson PLC, a UK-based media and publishing conglomerate. Its name is a portmanteau word derived from the words "educational" and "excellence"...
, OCR
OCR (examination board)
OCR is an examination board that sets examinations and awards qualifications . It is one of England, Wales and Northern Ireland's five main examination boards....
or WJEC whose main functions are setting GCSE and A-level public examinations and related courses, CCEA advises government on what should be taught and assessed in Primary Schools and post primary schools in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It used to set the Eleven Plus
Eleven plus
In the United Kingdom, the 11-plus or Eleven plus is an examination administered to some students in their last year of primary education, governing admission to various types of secondary school. The name derives from the age group for secondary entry: 11–12 years...
examinations in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
on behalf of the Department of Education
Department of Education (Northern Ireland)
The Department of Education is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive...
.