Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2020
146. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if the specification for the coding for the predictive grade model was signed off by her Department was explicit and clear as to the requirements; and the date on which this sign-off occurred. [29249/20]
View answer147. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the person or body within her Department that approved sign-off for the predictive grade model; on what date, and at what project board meeting. [29250/20]
View answer148. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the minutes of the meeting at which the specification and the subsequent approval were authorised for the calculated grade coding for a company (details supplied); and if she will provide evidence that the major flaws in the software quality assurance process will not be repeated. [29251/20]
View answer149. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the professional standards that will be applied to future work on the ISO 29119 software testing standards which are an internationally agreed set which can be used by an organisation when performing any form of software testing; if not, the recognised standards that will be adhered to; and the specific name of the alternative standard. [29252/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 146 to 149, inclusive, together.
Technical details of the Calculated Grades model and standardisation process were published on the date of issue of the Calculated Grades results and are available at https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/90d4a-calculated-grades-document-library/.
The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a direct result of COVID-19, which prevented the state from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. A range of steps were taken to ensure adequate oversight of the Calculated Grades process.
The design of the Calculated Grades model was informed by advice from a the National Standardisation Group, comprising experts drawn from the State Examinations Commission, the Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills, the Educational Research Centre and international external expertise. The National Standardisation Group is the decision-making group responsible for the implementation of the iterative design and development cycles required to produce and refine the standardisation process and the application, review, and adjustment of the data in line with the commitments, principles, parameters and constraints associated with the calculated grades process to arrive at fair and just representations of student performance. The integrity, validity and reliability of the process of national standardisation was overseen by the National Standardisation Group.
The purpose, role and membership of the Group, along with information on the duration of its work and the decision making, governance and oversight arrangements that would apply, were set out in the paper Establishment of a National Standardisation Group for Calculated Grades.
The aim of the National Standardisation Group was to deliver a set of calculated grades that met the objectives of being fair and accurate at the point in the iterative process at which a safe, satisfactory and defensible set of outcomes has been achieved.
Details regarding this group, including its terms of reference, membership and its decision making framework are available in the Report from the National Standardisation Group to the Independent Steering Committee and the Programme Board which is available at https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/90d4a-calculated-grades-document-library/. Minutes of the meetings of this group are available at
https://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Regulation-of-Lobbying-Act-2015/Groups-Committees-exempted-under-the-Transparency-Code/national-standardisation-group.html
A non-statutory Independent Steering Committee to oversee the quality and independence of the process being undertaken by the Calculated Grades Executive Office was established by me. The Steering Committee comprises six independent members appointed by me and is chaired by Dr Áine Lawlor, former Director of the Teaching Council. The Steering Committee was established to provide assurance as to the quality and integrity of the outcomes of the Calculated Grades system. The 1st Letter of Opinion regarding the Calculated Grades System of the Independent Steering Committee can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/86710/?page=null Details of the Independent Steering Committee including its membership are also available at the above link.
A Calculated Grades Programme Board provided governance and decision-making for the overall programme associated with the Calculated Grades Model and process. The Board was chaired by an Assistant Secretary General from the Department of Education and Skills and membership comprises officials from the Calculated Grades Executive Office, the wider Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
In addition, Dr Janet Brown, former Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority, was appointed to the role of External Reviewer. The External Reviewer is an independent expert, unconnected with the design of the Calculated Grades model, who provides further independent oversight of the system and overall validation on the model, including the operation of the appeals system. Dr. Brown’s Statement in Advance of the Issue of Results can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/90d4a-calculated-grades-document-library/.
