Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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470. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some schools are choosing to hold a mock leaving certificate examination as soon as students return while others are not; if guidelines have been issued on the way such mock exams should be used in arriving at predictive grades; her views on the potential for such an exam to be an unfair reflection of a students work after such a long absence; and her views on whether a potential inequity may arise between schools that do and those that do not run mock exams. [11674/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On Wednesday 17 February, I confirmed that the written Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will be held in June, with related components also proceeding as far as possible subject to public health advice. A corresponding process of grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will also be available to students who opt to receive them. I also announced that the Junior Cycle examinations will not be run in 2021. This decision follows intensive engagement with education stakeholders bilaterally and through the Planning for State Examinations 2021 Advisory Group.

A Guide to State Examinations and Accredited Grades for Leaving Certificate 2021has been published and is available on www.gov.ie/leavingcertificate. This guide has also been communicated to schools. Students and parents are encouraged to read the guide to familiarise themselves with the processes in place for the certificate examinations in 2021.

The Guide provides information regarding mock examinations and advises that mock examinations (i.e. examinations involving full class groups sitting written examinations under conditions that mirror those of the certificate examinations) are neither required nor recommended for use as evidence for the Accredited Grades process. The period following the return to in-school teaching and learning should be used to maximise opportunities for teaching and learning with students.

Following the return to school, the guidance provided states that teachers may set a limited number of additional assessments up to 14 May 2021, though it is important in the period leading up to the determination of estimated percentage marks that over-assessment is avoided. If administering an in-class teacher-designed test, the test should be no more than one lesson in duration (maximum one hour) and a maximum of three class tests may be administered up to 14 May 2021.