An overview of the Northern Irish educational system

Education in Northern Ireland is similar to the structure set up in England, with a few key differences. For instance, the age at which children start school is determined by whether they turn four by 1 July of the academic year, whereas in England and Wales it is 1 September. 

Also, all Northern Irish schools follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum, which is based on the National Curriculum of England but tailored to local needs. This curriculum is divided into five Key Stages: Foundation Stage (Years 1 and 2), Key Stage 1 (Years 3 and 4), Key Stage 2 (Years 5–7), Key Stage 3 (Years 8–10), and Key Stage 4 (Years 11–12). While this mirrors England's curriculum structure, the specific expectations and assessments are unique to Northern Ireland.

Students in Northern Ireland don't sit Key Stage 1 and 2 SATs (Standard Assessment Tests); instead, they are assessed by their teachers using Levels of Progression (LoP). These assessments occur at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 4) and Key Stage 2 (Year 7). Teachers assign levels to students based on their performance, and these levels correspond to specific expectations: students should be at Level 2 by the end of Key Stage 1 and at Level 4 by the end of Key Stage 2. Formal results are reported to parents at the end of Year 4 and Year 7. 

In secondary school, pupils take General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams in Year 12 and have the option to continue into Years 13 and 14 to study for A-levels or more vocationally-focused Advanced Level exams. 

The Northern Ireland Curriculum also includes compulsory Religious Education (RE) at all Key Stages, though parents have the right to withdraw their children from these lessons if they wish.