Written answers

Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Department of Education and Skills

State Examinations

Photo of Cathal CroweCathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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228. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the predicted points system for those repeating the leaving certificate in a different school than their first sitting of the exams (details supplied). [6108/20]

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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236. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will put in place special arrangements for students that intended to repeat the leaving certificate in 2020 to actually sit the exam in 2020 in order that they can be considered for third-level college entry for the academic year 2020/2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6168/20]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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297. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if clarity will be provided for students that are repeating the leaving certificate in a new school and that are doing core subjects outside of school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6432/20]

Photo of Claire KerraneClaire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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356. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in place for leaving certificate students that are repeating the year in a new school; if advice will be sought from their former school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6698/20]

Photo of Marc Ó CathasaighMarc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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388. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he plans to address the needs and concerns of students that had planned to repeat the leaving certificate in 2020 in a new school with the hope of achieving higher points in view of the fact that the teachers in the new school would have no background knowledge of the student and the student may be relatively unknown to their teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6908/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 228, 236, 297, 356 and 388 together.

Where a student is studying one or more subjects outside of a recognised school, the Department will be flexible in accepting estimated marks and rankings from other schools or colleges, and will look at this issue on a case-by-case basis. In general, I can say that, provided an estimated mark and ranking can be generated from a teacher in a way that is fair to all candidates, my Department will seek to provide a calculated grade. Students will be able to use this calculated grade in the same way as a Leaving Certificate grade to satisfy minimum entry requirements.

If a student has moved school recently and the length of time is such that the teacher considers that do not have enough evidence to make a sound judgement, then the teacher should consult school management about acquiring additional information form the student’s previous school.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures in place to deal with mature students in respect of the leaving certificate announcement; if predictive grading will be implemented for mature students repeating their leaving certificate; if particular measures will be put in place in which a predictive grade is not possible and in circumstances in which the person needs a result for this coming academic year in third-level studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6126/20]

Photo of Verona MurphyVerona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions in place for mature leaving certificate external candidates; if a tutor will be permitted to submit a predicted grade on the students behalf in circumstances in which an external candidate is being tutored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6159/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 237 together.

All reasonable efforts will be made to provide students with a calculated grade. In the case of students taking a subject outside school, the guidance on calculated grades provides details of how schools should proceed if school management authorities are confident that there is sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement to make an objective judgement.

In other cases where there is no identifiable or appropriate teacher or school engagement such cases can be considered on a case by case basis. Candidates also have the option to sit the traditional examinations when it is safe to hold them at a future date.

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