Article 8 Skills

(1)

The curriculum for a grant-aided school must ensure, wholly or mainly through the teaching of the minimum content of areas of learning and religious education, the acquisition and development by pupils of–

(a)

the cross-curricular skills; and

(b)

any other skills specified by order of the Department.

(2)

The cross-curricular skills are–

(a)

communication;

(b)

using mathematics;

(c)

using information and communications technology.

(3)

The Department may by order specify, in relation to a cross-curricular skill and pupils in key stages 1, 2, 3 and 4, such levels of progression as it considers appropriate for that skill.

(4)

It is the duty of the Department so to exercise the powers conferred by paragraph (3) as–

(a)

to set in place as soon as is practicable levels of progression in relation to pupils in key stages 1, 2 and 3; and

(b)

to revise any existing levels of progression whenever it considers it necessary or appropriate to do so.