Standardised Testing in Primary Schools

Standardised tests are used to measure a child’s reading and mathematical achievement, and to determine children’s progress in those areas. Information from the tests is important given the vital role of literacy and numeracy in enabling children to access the full curriculum.

Circulars 0056/2011, 0018/2012 and 0025/2025 asked schools to implement a range of measures relating to the National Strategy Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life.

These measures included the implementation of standardised testing at 2nd, 4th and 6th class in primary school and the reporting of the information from these tests to parents, boards of management and the Department of Education.

Standardised Testing Results for 2024/2025 must be uploaded onto the Esinet Portal on or before Wednesday, 18 June 2025.

During May/June, you should carry out the tests in accordance with circulars 0056/2011, 0018/2012 and 0025/2025

The results of these tests should be uploaded onto the Esinet portal on or before Wednesday, 18 June 2025.

Data Entry

• the designated data entry person in your school should log onto the Esinet portal
• click on ‘Schools Data Collection'
• select ‘Literacy and Numeracy’ from the left-hand side menu
• read the instructions and click continue to be taken to the results form
• enter the results of the tests on the form on screen. A test must be selected in the ‘Test Administered’ field to proceed
• click Save. Once you click Save you will have the option to submit for approval to the principal/approver or if you believe you will have to make changes to the form at a later date you can leave it as ‘Saved’. You will be able to edit the data the next time you log on to Esinet
• once you are happy that the information on the form is correct, click ‘Submit’ to submit the results to the principal/approver. Once you have clicked submit you will not be able to return and edit the results
• once the form is submitted, the data entry person should log out

Approver

• the designated approver in your school should then log onto the Esinet portal
• click on ‘Schools Data Collection'
• select ‘Literacy and Numeracy’ from the left-hand side menu
• read the instructions and click continue to be taken to the results form
• check that the figures entered and the tests selected are correct
• if an error was made you can click on Edit to fix the data, click Save
• once you are happy that the information on the form is correct, click ‘Approve’ to submit the results to the department. Once you have clicked Approve you will not be able to return and edit the results
• once the results have been approved, the approver can log out

Please note the following points in relation to the uploading of returns on the Esinet portal

• all returns must be submitted online. Postal returns will not be processed
• returns should be submitted by the designated data entry person in your school and then approved by the designated approver
• submitted returns will not show up in the OLCS approval list. The approver must log into the application and approve the data

Important note for special schools: Nil Return Option

In the case of special schools if, in the view of the school principal, all relevant pupils have a learning or physical disability which would prevent them from attempting the tests, no action is required.

If a special school has pupils who are eligible to be tested in 2, 4 or 6 class, you are required to submit a return on Esinet.

Important note for infant schools

As infant schools have no pupils in second, fourth or sixth class, no return is required. If an infant school logs on to the system, the school will not be recognised by the system.

Email: literacynumeracyretu@education.gov.ie