Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One of the key factors in senior cycle reform has come from extensive engagement with many partners in education and specific voices in education, most especially those of students themselves, and they have been clear about the need to spread the assessment load. They have been very articulate in that respect. Equally, many of the senior cycle programmes, such as the leaving certificate applied programme, currently have assessment at the end of fifth year. This gives students the opportunity to feel that not all of their achievement will depend on only one day and one moment in time in the month of June. Moreover, internationally, there are many examples of exams being taken over a two-year stage and that is right and proper.

It is for all these reasons and more that we will move ahead with holding the paper one exams at the end of fifth year. Doing so is very much student centred and seeks to ensure that well-being, which is a significant consideration for this committee, will be embedded into the experience of students and give them the opportunity to showcase their best talents.