Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations

Who we are
What we do
Terms of Reference
Membership
Meetings Documentation
Contact

Who we are

Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations.

What we do

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.

Terms of Reference

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.

Membership

Name	Position/Organisation
Dalton Tattan	Assistant Secretary General, Department of Education (Joint Chair)	*
Andrea Feeney	Chief Executive Officer, State Examinations Commission (SEC) (Joint Chair)
Caitlin-Faye Maniti	President, Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU)
Jack McGinn	Education Officer, ISSU
Áine Lynch	Chief Executive, National Parents’ Council – Primary (NPC-P)
Mai Fanning	President, National Parents’ Council – Post-Primary (NPC-PP)
Eamon Dennehy	President, Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI)
Kieran Christie	General Secretary, ASTI
Martin Marjoram	President, Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI)
Michael Gillespie	General Secretary, TUI
John Curtis	General Secretary, Joint Managerial Body (JMB)
John Irwin	General Secretary, Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS)
Paddy Lavelle	General Secretary, Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI)
Paul Crone	Director, National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD)
Barry Slattery	Deputy Chief Executive Officer, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA)
Elaine Sheridan	Assistant Head of Examinations and Assessment Division, SEC
Hugh McManus	Assistant Head of Examinations and Assessment Division, SEC
Keith Moynes	Assistant Secretary General, DFHERIS
Anne Tansey	Director, National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)
Yvonne Keating	Chief Inspector, DoE	*
Deirdre Shanley	Assistant Secretary General, DoE	*
Orlaith O’Connor	Assistant Chief Inspector, DoE
Breda Corr	Senior Manager, System Funding, Higher Education Authority

* = Designated public official

Meetings Documentation

Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations

Contact

Secretary

Paul Keating

Address:

Department of Education, Marlborough Street , Dublin 1 , D01 RC96

Email:

Paul_keating@education.gov.ie

Groups and committees exempted under the Transparency Code

Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations

Who we are

What we do

Terms of Reference

Membership

Meetings Documentation

Contact

Paul Keating

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