This guidance expands upon the Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (2007 No. 46) by setting out the minimum requirements of the Northern Ireland Curriculum that should be taught at Key Stage 3, with examples, and supplements it by providing a detailed rationale to guide its interpretation. It represents the final approved outcomes of a series of proposals and consultations1 which informed revisions to the Northern Ireland Curriculum (2006)2 . As a result of these each school now has additional flexibility to make decisions about how best to interpret and combine minimum requirements so as to provide a broad and balanced curriculum that will prepare each young person for a rapidly changing world.