Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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251. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the ongoing review of the senior cycle. [7885/20]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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In late 2016, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) commenced an extensive review of senior cycle programmes and vocational pathways, to include Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Applied, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and the Leaving Certificate Established.

As part of the first phase of the review the NCCA conducted international research on senior cycle in a number of other jurisdictions (France, Sweden, New Zealand, Queensland, Finland, England, Netherlands, and Ontario).

Over the school year 2018/2019, a representative sample of 41 schools were directly involved in the initial consultation cycles of the review. The first of two consultation cycles focused on the purpose of senior cycle and futures thinking, with the second consultation cycle focusing on pathways and flexibility.

The NCCA then commenced a public consultation which invited individuals and organisations to provide feedback on the areas for development emerging from the review to date. This phase of consultation was informed by two NCCA documents, an Interim report of review of Senior Cycle Education and accompanying Senior Cycle Review Consultation Document. The phase of consultation concluded in November 2019.

Work on the Review of Senior Cycle has continued throughout 2020 and is nearing completion. The NCCA is completing an Advisory Report on the review setting out areas of work and plans to be pursued in the future development of senior cycle education.

The timing for the approval and publication of the Advisory Report is currently under review in light of the impact which the emergence of COVID-19 and the measures aimed at addressing the spread of the virus have had on schools and the education system more generally. Developments during this period have highlighted aspects of senior cycle education that may warrant further consideration and additional attention within the Advisory Report. Changes on the scale envisaged this year, which have come about as a result of the exceptional circumstances prevailing as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, will be of particular interest to this work. However, it should be noted that the circumstances pertaining this year, and the arranements in place for the provision of Calculated Grades to students, are exceptional and it is understood that they will not be regarded as a precedent or as agreement by teachers, principals or schools to carry out such tasks in future years.

In this overall context, it is currently envisaged that the report will be finalised by the NCCA no earlier than Q3, 2020.

The report will then be submitted to my Department for consideration.