Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency

Last updated: 10 March 2009

International research is conducted on behalf of QCA by the International Unit. We maintain QCA’s international contribution to the generation and transfer of research and knowledge in appropriate fields of education and training policy. Whilst bearing in mind the importance of distinctive national contexts, we contribute to international discussions and gain a fresh perspective on our own curriculum and qualifications.

The International Unit manages the INCA and UK ReferNet programmes, as well as contributing to UK national, European and trans-national research projects. 

This page provides links to some of our international evidence resources, including:

Finland's National Core Curriculum for Basic Education 2004*new*

An overview of Finland's National Core Curriculum with specific findings relating to the area of the primary curriculum review remit.

Analysis of evidence from the OECD project 'The definition and selection of key competences' (DeSeCo), 1997 - 2003 *new*

When OECD established PISA (the Programme for International Student Assessment), the programme began the task of comparing 15 year old students' competence in reading, mathematics, science and problem solving.  At the same time it was recognised that learners' success in life depended on a much wider range of competencies.  The purpose of the DeSeCo project was to develop a framework for identifying wider key competence domains, and to provide a method through which the OECD and countries can develop well informed schemes of competences and, eventually, find ways of assessing some or all of these wider competences.

National assessment systems in other countries *new*

This is a summary of a new international comparative analysis of the information presented in the INCA assessment probe previously produced in August 2007.  The probe provided information for the 20 INCA countries on compulsory assessment systems during primary and secondary schooling.

Reports relating to the primary curriculum, taking on the international dimension  

Summaries from international reviews, research and publications on primary curricula in various countries around the world. QCA feels that looking abroad to successful primary curricula is one of the key steps we should take during our own review.  

We welcome enquiries about educational research, policy and practice reforms. To contact the International Unit please click here.