Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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516. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if students who opt for State Examinations Commission-accredited grades in language subjects and not to sit a written exam but who excel in the oral component of this subject can be afforded the option of taking an informal oral exam with their teacher which will help form the basis of this SEC-accredited grade. [10437/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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517. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if students will be given a period of time before the exams begin on 9 June 2021 to solely study and prepare for these exams without being expected to submit additional work to form the basis of their SEC-accredited grades. [10438/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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518. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she will issue clear guidelines to schools and students on the way in which the SEC-accredited grades will be calculated in 2021; and if she will provide clarity on the work by students that will form the basis of this grade. [10439/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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528. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if mock exams will be taken into account when deciding on SEC-accredited grades for leaving certificate students. [10449/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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529. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if project work for technology and design and communication graphics will be taken into account when providing SEC-accredited grades; and if students can have the option of choosing to have their project work taken into account. [10450/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 516 to 518, inclusive, 528 and 529 together.

On 17 February, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will proceed and students will also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades.

This decision follows intensive engagement with education stakeholders bilaterally and through the Planning for State Examinations 2021 Advisory Group and sub-group.

This decision ensures for every student a method to assess their learning and attainment at the end of their post-primary education and to progress to higher and further education, and the world of work.

Putting in place both the examination and a corresponding measure of SEC-Accredited Grades is essential to ensuring a fair system, having regard to the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic and the loss of learning that has occurred for this group of students due to the interruption of in-person teaching and learning during the periods of school closure.

Under the SEC-Accredited Grades process, students will have the opportunity to opt to receive an SEC-Accredited Grade. They can also opt to sit the Leaving Certificate Examination. Students will opt into these processes on a subject by subject basis.

My Department is currently finalising a Guide to State Examinations and SEC Accredited Grades for

Leaving Certificate students 2021 and this will be issued shortly. It will include information on how the SEC-Accredited Grades process will operate. This will be followed by more detailed guidance for schools in this matter.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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519. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when students will receive their SEC-accredited grades and the results of written exams they have taken. [10440/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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527. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason students will not receive their SEC-accredited grades in advance of the written exams in June 2021. [10448/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 527 together.

On 17 February, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will proceed and students will also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades.

This decision follows intensive engagement with education stakeholders bilaterally and through the Planning for State Examinations 2021 Advisory Group and sub-group.

This decision ensures for every student a method to assess their learning and attainment at the end of their post-primary education and to progress to higher and further education, and the world of work.

Putting in place both the examination and a corresponding measure of SEC-Accredited Grades is essential to ensuring a fair system, having regard to the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic and the loss of learning that has occurred for this group of students due to the interruption of in-person teaching and learning during the periods of school closure.

Under the SEC-Accredited Grades process, students will have the opportunity to opt to receive an SEC-Accredited Grade. They can also opt to sit the Leaving Certificate Examination. Students will opt into these processes on a subject by subject basis. Where students opt for SEC-Accredited Grades and the examinations they will be credited with the better of their results from the two processes, on a subject by subject basis.

The option of providing their SEC-Accredited Grades to students in advance of the written examinations was explored thoroughly but this option was not possible.

Students who choose to receive both SEC Accredited Grades and sit the Leaving Certificate examinations will receive a certificate of results showing the better grade awarded for each subject.

It is intended that the results of the Leaving Certificate 2021 process will issue to students within the required timeframe for admission to higher and further education.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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520. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the contingency plans that have been put in place for the holding of the written leaving certificate exams in June 2021 should Ireland remain in level 5 restrictions or otherwise. [10441/21]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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521. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the contingency plans that have been put in place for students who must self-isolate during the written leaving certificate exam period in June 2021; and if they will be given the opportunity to sit the written exam in the subjects they have missed at a later stage but still in time to progress to third-level in September 2021. [10442/21]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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548. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if sixth-year students who are unable to return to school due to living with a high-risk family member will be able to receive accredited grades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10576/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 520, 521 and 548 together.

On 17 February, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will proceed and students will also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades.

This decision follows intensive engagement with education stakeholders bilaterally and through the Planning for State Examinations 2021 Advisory Group and sub-group.

This decision ensures for every student a method to assess their learning and attainment at the end of their post-primary education and to progress to higher and further education, and the world of work.

Under the SEC-Accredited Grades process, students will have the opportunity to opt to receive an SEC-Accredited Grade. They can also opt to sit the Leaving Certificate Examination. Students will opt into these processes on a subject by subject basis. Where students opt for SEC-Accredited Grades and the examinations they will be credited with the better of their results from the two processes, on a subject by subject basis.

Providing for both of these measures is essential to ensuring a fair system, having regard to the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic and the loss of learning that has occurred for this group of students. The SEC-Accredited Grades also provide for students who are unable to sit the examinations at the scheduled time, for example for some students who may be at very high-risk from COVID-19, and in the event that it may not be possible to run the examinations in one or more examination centres or more generally because of COVID-19 related restrictions. There will be no alternative or later sitting of the 2021 Leaving Certificate examinations outside of the examinations commencing on 9 June.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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522. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the appeals process that will be put in place in 2021 for students who may wish to appeal their SEC-accredited grade. [10443/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On 17 February, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will proceed and students will also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades.

This decision follows intensive engagement with education stakeholders bilaterally and through the Planning for State Examinations 2021 Advisory Group and sub-group.

This decision ensures for every student a method to assess their learning and attainment at the end of their post-primary education and to progress to higher and further education, and the world of work.

Putting in place both the examination and a corresponding measure of SEC-Accredited Grades is essential to ensuring a fair system, having regard to the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic and the loss of learning that has occurred for this group of students due to the interruption of in-person teaching and learning during the periods of school closure.

Under the SEC-Accredited Grades process, students will have the opportunity to opt to receive an SEC-Accredited Grade. They can also opt to sit the Leaving Certificate Examination. Students will opt into these processes on a subject by subject basis. Where students opt for SEC-Accredited Grades and the examinations they will be credited with the better of their results from the two processes, on a subject by subject basis.

The SEC Accredited Grades system will include a right of appeal for students. This will comprise a process review focused on the receipt and transmission of student data. Candidates appealing the results of an examination will follow the usual SEC appeals process. This will include an opportunity to view the scripts marked by SEC examiners.