Joe Flaherty
Question:111. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Education her views on the reform of the senior cycle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23656/22]
View answerThursday, 12 May 2022
Questions (111)
Written answers
As the Deputy is aware, on 29 March I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience.
The three tenets of Senior Cycle reform are to:
- Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century
- Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system
- Embed well-being and reduce student stress levels
Introducing significant change at Senior Cycle needs to be thought through carefully and it is essential to ensure that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), State Examinations Commission (SEC), the Department and schools can work through the changes with all stakeholders over a sustained period of time.
I know that there is an appetite for change in respect of different aspects of the Senior Cycle and Leaving Cert experience and that this desire has been massively accelerated and strengthened since the arrival of the pandemic.
Among the changes I announced on 29 March are:
- introduction of new curricula for subjects across Senior Cycle, updating subject content;
- the introduction of new subjects, providing greater choice for students to better reflect their range of interests and support the development of a wider range of talents and skills. Two new subjects – Drama, Film and Theatre Studies; and Climate Action and Sustainable Development, will be ready for students in network schools starting fifth year in 2024;
- changing the final assessment procedure to significantly reduce reliance on final examinations and introduce teacher-based assessment components;
- as Leaving Certificate subjects are revised they will have an SEC externally-moderated, teacher-based form of assessment component, which will have a weighting of 40% of the total marks available
- Avoiding the rigid restrictions that exist at present between students studying for the Established Leaving Certificate (ELC), LCA and LCVP programmes
- the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and SEC will jointly research and define, in consultation with education partners, how an SEC externally-moderated, teacher-based form of assessment could be possible within the mix of approaches used to assess each subject;
- the initial tranche of new and revised subjects will be available in September 2024, when students entering fifth year in network schools will study updated subject curricula, with updated assessment models in the optional subjects of Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Business;
- to ensure a positive impact on students as soon as possible, Leaving Certificate Established students entering Senior Cycle in September 2023 will sit Paper 1 in English and Irish at the end of fifth year;
- it is intended that into the future Oral examinations and the Music practical performance will take place during the first week of the Easter break of 6th year as was the case this year. The advice of the SEC on the implementation of these changes on a permanent basis, following an evaluation of the arrangements in 2022 by the SEC, will be duly considered in this regard;
- to enhance students’ options further, Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) students will have improved access to Mathematics and Modern Foreign Languages from September 2022, broadening the options for LCA;
- a new qualification will be introduced at level one and two on the National Qualification framework to provide an appropriate level of assessment to some students with special educational needs, building on the equivalent programme at Junior Cycle level; and
- a revised Transition Year programme will be established, and greater access to Transition Year for all students will be encouraged.
My approach to Senior Cycle redevelopment is ambitious, optimistic and inclusive. Senior Cycle redevelopment will ensure that the diversity of students’ learning needs and strengths are addressed. The redevelopment of Senior Cycle will ensure that all learning pathways in school are accessible and equally valued. It will broaden the ways used to assess and accredit students’ achievement, to better reflect and encourage the learning we wish to promote. And finally, we must ensure that students and their well-being are at the forefront of everything we do.
The new approach will enable students to follow a broad curriculum, develop their interests and skills and participate in a final assessment process consistent with international best practice, which will support them in their next phase of life whether that’s third level, further education and training, apprenticeships or the world of work.