BelleMFL

MFL Teacher (German & French)

[BelleMFL @BelleMfl]

@Ed_Authority @educationgovuk @CCEA_info disgraceful!

[Garrett Hargan @GAHargan]

‘Very concerning’: Education official admits curriculum experts removed from curriculum reform group

Individuals from a body that advises the Department of Education on what is taught in Northern Ireland’s schools have been excluded from working groups developing a new school curriculum, it has emerged.

CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment) is Northern Ireland’s official awarding body, responsible for curriculum development, examinations and assessment across schools and colleges.

But an official at the Department of Education admitted to MLAs that CCEA officers were removed from subject working groups.

There was also a heated discussion at a meeting of Stormont’s education scrutiny committee on Wednesday as Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan challenged senior education official, Suzanne Kingon, about her promotion within the department to acting deputy permanent secretary.

(Full story available to read online)

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

The roads in NI are all very quiet this morning as kids are all off school for their teachers to take part in #TransformED preparations directed by @Education_NI …five days before the public consultation on same closes 🙃 #DupED

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

No matter how much @Education_NI try to fudge it in today’s Education Committee, this ‘curriculum’ for Modern Languages is a significant departure from the current Curriculum…

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

🍿Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary @Education_NI reading verbatim (truly secure in their knowledge of their proposed Curriculum?) & public admission that @CCEA_info curriculum experts were removed from subject working groups by DE…All coming out in the wash at Ed Comm today!🍿

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

Proposed Curriculum in Northern Ireland would restrict children’s language learning: https://t.co/EG8N3oX6t3

[BelleMFL @BelleMfl]

@paulgivan @CCEA_info @Education_NI @NASUWT_NI

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

Amen.

[BelleMFL @BelleMfl]

Documents raise serious questions. If no qualified languages teacher was involved in shaping decisions on German qualifications, how can the educational impact have been properly assessed? Students deserve informed decisions based on subject expertise! @Education_NI @CCEA_info

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

The #TransformED consultation launched 11 May. On 12 June at Rathgael House the comms strategy for 🇩🇪 was changed at behest of @Education_NI. None of the DE civil servants present is a qualified languages teacher. Happy with this overstep under your watch @paulgivan ?

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

So the GCSE and A-level 🇩🇪 situation. Up until late April 2026, @CCEA_info advised @Education_NI not to withdraw 🇩🇪 What then changed between April and June? @paulgivan see next tweet to find out!

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

Exactly 15,566 pupils (out of c. 650k) took the PISA tests in 515 schools in England

In Northern Ireland, 3,445 pupils (out of 24k) from 104 schools took part.

2% v 14%

You don’t need to be a statistician to know caution needs to be exercised in comparing… @paulgivan 🍏 🍊

[Blue Stamp Travel 🇫🇷🇩🇪🇪🇸 @stamp_travel]

As we enter the next academic year, now is a great time to start thinking about next steps, whether that be GCSE or A Level options, university or future career prospects. Here are just a few of the many places language skills can take you! 💪

#MFL #Langtwt #CareerGuidance

[BelleMFL @BelleMfl]

Keep signing and sharing this petition, bitte!! 🖤❤️💛 🇩🇪

[Wendy Bennett @WendyBennett21]

I've joined the campaign to maintain GCSE and A level qualifications in German in Northern Ireland. Please consider signing the petition: https://t.co/QRjNrHSFbi

[Wendy Bennett @WendyBennett21]

I've joined the campaign to maintain GCSE and A level qualifications in German in Northern Ireland. Please consider signing the petition: https://t.co/QRjNrHSFbi

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

There is no int research that says only do one core language at KS3. The orange bit has been very carefully written to suggest this, but not to say it (as they know there is no undergirding research). 'Depth of knowledge' is not the same as 'one core language'. Shocking!

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

The decision by @CCEA_info to discontinue 🇩🇪 has nothing to do with pupil numbers. They have to dance to the beat of the @Education_NI drum, which couldn’t have made a worse job of the KS3 ML Curriculum if it tried. I’ve never seen a more poorly written document or policy 🤷‍♂️

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

Over 3000 people in agreement that @CCEA_info should not have stopped GCSE and A level German https://t.co/BFQnicTw2r , including senior academics from @QUBelfast , senior staff from @InvestNI & @NITouristBoard . What do you think @SuzieKingon ?

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

Maintain CCEA's German GCSE and A level qualifications in Northern Ireland - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/zQZsVXVczp via @UKChange

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

Over 1000 signatures in half a day! Keep sharing and signing 🇩🇪 🏫 🙌
Maintain CCEA's German GCSE and A level qualifications in Northern Ireland - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/WmN3c5ehdG via @UKChange

[BelleMFL @BelleMfl]

@germanteachers @goetheinstitut @GI_London1 @GoetheIrland Please sign and help save German in NI schools! 🇩🇪

[Ian Collen 🇪🇺 @DrIanCollen]

Maintain CCEA's German GCSE and A level qualifications in Northern Ireland - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/zQZsVXVczp via @UKChange

[BelleMFL @BelleMfl]

@CCEA_info @paulgivan more reasons to support how important learning German (and French) is. NI government and education system are doing our young people a disservice in this global climate! Modern Languages need support not cut 🇩🇪 🇨🇵

[GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen]

@DrIanCollen @CCEA_info @paulgivan worth adding, in Europe, French and German is slowly beginning to replace English as the lingua franca?

I'm based in CH and fluency in English has now being replaced with A1 French/German as mandatory.

same across Europe. another brexit benefit?

[GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen]

@DrIanCollen @CCEA_info @paulgivan worth adding, in Europe, French and German is slowly beginning to replace English as the lingua franca?

I'm based in CH and fluency in English has now being replaced with A1 French/German as mandatory.

same across Europe. another brexit benefit?