Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding localisation of school standards. [55075/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I published the Framework for Junior Cycle on 4th October. One of its features is that the State Junior Certificate examination will be replaced, in a phased manner over the next eight years, by a new school-based approach to assessment in line with best practice internationally. The Framework includes a number of measures to support and quality assure standards for the school based assessment across the three years of junior cycle. The Junior Certificate is no longer a high stakes examination, unlike the GCSE in England and Wales, as the vast majority of Junior Certificate students progress on to senior cycle and present for the Leaving Certificate examination at the end of senior cycle.

The State Examinations Commission will provide final assessment papers and marking schemes for subjects until the new school-based system of assessment is established. For English, Irish and mathematics they will continue in the interim to also mark the examination papers. The NCCA is developing an Assessment and Moderation Toolkit that teachers, students and parents can use to support the new emphasis on school-based assessment. A comprehensive professional development service will be provided from 2013/2014 for teachers of each subject as the new specifications for the Framework are phased in from 2014-2017. The CPD will cover new approaches to teaching and learning but particular attention will be given to assessment modes which include both assessment for learning and assessment of learning.