Reformed GCSEs graded 9 to 1 can be used in Northern Ireland from September 2016.

This announcement from the new Minister of Education in Northern Ireland, Peter Weir, reverses a decision, made in November 2015, to only allow the teaching of unreformed GCSEs graded A* to G.  The announcement follows concerns around the comparability and portability of GCSEs, and the continuance of the open qualifications market in Northern Ireland.
 
Policy for AS/A Levels in Northern Ireland, which already allowed schools and colleges to teach new AS/A Levels developed for England, remains unchanged.