Education in Northern Ireland
Education in Northern Ireland differs from systems used elsewhere in the United Kingdom, although it is relatively similar to Wales. A child's age on 1 July determines the point of entry into the relevant stage of education, unlike England and Wales where it is 1 September. Northern Ireland's results at GCSE and A-Level are consistently top in the UK. At A-Level and BTEC level 3, one third of students in Northern Ireland achieved A and distinction grades in 2007, which is a higher proportion than in England and Wales.[2][3]
| Department for Education | |
|---|---|
| Minister for Education | Michelle McIlveen |
| National education budget (2011–12) | |
| Budget | £1.894 billion |
| General details | |
| Primary languages | English, Irish |
| System type | Regional |
| Compulsory education | 1827 [citation needed] |
| Literacy (2003[1]) | |
| Total | 99% |
| Male | 99% |
| Female | 99% |