Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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526. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which out-of-school learners will be provided with SEC-accredited grades; and if all students will be facilitated with the choice between SEC-accredited grades and written exams, including those who are home-schooled and-or studying subjects outside of school. [10447/21]

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.

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 process will seek to make accredited grades available to as many students as possible, including to the greatest extent possible students who are studying one or more subjects outside of school and those studying entirely out of school. Further details of the processes to enable these candidates to seek an SEC Accredited Grade will be provided as soon as possible.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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531. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the standardisation process for the SEC-accredited grades; if a student's junior certificate results will form part of this process; and if the previous history of the school a student attends will form part of same. [10456/21]

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.

A process of national standardisation will form a key part of the SEC-Accredited Grades process. The standardisation process will not use historical school by school data on past performance in Leaving Certificate Examinations. Data on the Junior Cycle performance of the Leaving Certificate class of 2021, recent national Leaving Certificate results data and the national distribution of students’ results may form part of this process. Further details of the process will be determined, taking account of advice from the State Examinations Commission.

Though the prior performance of the class group in junior cycle will be used in this process, the individual performance of the student at junior cycle is not a determinant of his/her performance at Leaving Certificate.