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Junior Cycle Reform

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Ceisteanna (403, 404, 405, 406)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

403. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provision has been made for students taking a junior certificate subject with a compulsory assessment component in which the subject is not offered within the student’s own school and is thus studied externally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25159/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

404. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provision has been made for the assessment of students in junior certificate music that are home schooled. [25160/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

405. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provision has been made for assessment of students studying junior certificate music external to their own school. [25161/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

406. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if guidelines have or will be released to education providers regarding the practical assessment of junior certificate subjects in which these subjects are studied externally to the students' school. [25162/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 403 to 406, inclusive, together.

The Junior Cycle Framework presents a dual approach to assessment that supports student learning over the three years of junior cycle and also measures achievement at the end of those three years. This dual approach reduces the focus on one externally assessed examination as a means of assessing students and increases the prominence given to classroom-based assessment and formative assessment, providing a more rounded assessment of the education of each young person. This change of emphasis arises from an acknowledgement that students learn best when teachers provide feedback that helps students to understand how their learning can be improved. As part of the phasing in of the new Framework for Junior Cycle the new Junior Cycle music specification will be introduced to schools from September 2018.

The Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) is a school based award issued by recognised schools which draws upon and reports on achievement across all elements of assessment including ongoing, formative assessment and Classroom-Based Assessments by teachers, as well as State Examinations marked by the State Examinations Commission. The assessment of a number of practical subjects including music for the purposes of the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) will comprise two Classroom-Based Assessments undertaken in recognised schools, a practical examination and a written examination.

Where students take extra subjects outside of their school setting these subjects cannot satisfy the requirements for ongoing, formative assessment by recognised schools and cannot, therefore, be included as part of the JCPA. Students who wish to study additional subjects, such as music, outside of their school have a number of other certification avenues open to them.

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