Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations

Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations.

Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations in continuance of its initial advisory role in the planning for the 2020 state examinations:

• recognising the intention of the Minister and the State Examinations Commission (SEC) to run the state examinations as close to normal as possible, taking account of public health advice, with appropriate contingency arrangements in place;
• advise the Minister and the State Examinations Commission (SEC) in relation to arrangements for the state examinations and any consequential actions, drawing where appropriate on the experiences and lessons learned from advising on the 2020 examinations, and drawing on relevant research where possible;

The group will meet as often as is required.

• To recognise the measures already taken under the 2021 adjusted assessment arrangements which recognise the disrupted learning experience of students and to build on this by ensuring that the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations, to include all assessment components, can be held in 2021, subject to compliance with public health requirements and with appropriate contingencies in place.
• To have clarity and certainty for students and for the education system about the examination arrangements for 2021 and to have decisions made as soon as possible in order to bring much needed stability and confidence to the system.
• For all examination candidates to be enabled to demonstrate their learning achievements to their best ability despite the disruption to their learning caused by the Covid-19 crisis
• For all LC candidates to receive a fair recognition for their learning achievements so that they will be able to use their LC grades to seek entry to higher or further education or the world of work in autumn 2021
• To ensure clarity in communications regarding arrangements for the State Examinations 2021, in particular with students, in order to reduce the stress caused by uncertainty and misinformation as much as possible.
• In the context of seeking to run the examinations as normally as possible, to minimise, as far as practicable, the impact that school closures have had on students’ learning. These include students from disadvantaged backgrounds (including students in homelessness or emergency accommodation, students in refugee/asylum seeker accommodation), and students with special educational needs including high risk students learning remotely under an AEP.
• To care for students’ well-being by reducing any additional stress that may be caused for them by the Covid-19 crisis, including stress associated with disrupted learning, economic stress, family bereavements and pressures to gain places in higher and further education.
• To minimise any risks to the safety and health of students and their families, and to the safety and health of teachers and other school and SEC staff who enable them to participate in examinations or other assessments.

• = Designated public official

Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations

Secretary

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