Sinn Fein MLA Catherine Kelly has warned the revised 2021 curriculum as currently proposed by examiners could potentially discriminate against disadvantaged pupils. 

The party’s spokesperson for children and young people said:

“CCEA’s proposal to remove practical elements from some courses but retain them in others will create a disparity that disadvantages pupils studying in non-selective schools.

“Removing the practical element from single award science but retaining it within double award, will undermine skills-based learning more popular in non-selective schools while retaining the advantage of skills-based assessment within double award science, which is more often taught in selective schools.

“Children and young people who attend non-selective schools are more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Any change that has an adverse impact on their ability to do well in GCSE qualifications is totally unacceptable.”