Dear Leaving Cert Student,
I hope you are all well. Students and teachers have been waiting for some time now for clarification on 2021 examinations. Thankfully, as I’m sure you are all aware from media reports, the Department of Education has now announced a twin track approach of exams and accredited grades for Leaving Cert students.
If you are interested in reading the full text of the Press Release, you can access it at the link below: https://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2021-press-releases/PR21-02-17.html
In this Press Release the Minister for Education Norma Foley TD 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.
The main elements of the new arrangements for LC 2021 are outlined below:
• The timetable for the written examinations in June has been published today and is attached to this mail. • The results of the Leaving Certificate 2021 process will issue to students within the required timeframe for CAO admission to higher and further education.
• All exams are to be conducted subject to public health advice and providing, as far as possible, access to the examinations for very high-risk students.
• Additional assessment components, such as orals, practical performance tests and coursework will run, subject to public health advice with components in certain subjects not running for public health reasons. Assessment will be arranged by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).
• An Accredited Grades system, to be operated by the SEC, will be available whereby Leaving Certificate candidates can opt to have grades in some or all of their subjects (to be known as “SEC Accredited Grades”) issued to them at the same time as the examination results.
The elements of the SEC Accredited Grades system will include the following:
➢ The professional judgement of each of the candidate’s teachers which will not be subject to appeal
➢ A form of in-school alignment to ensure fairness amongst candidates at school level
➢ Approval by the school principal of the estimated subject scores
➢ A process of standardisation at national level to ensure as much fairness as possible amongst this year’s candidates
➢ The SEC Accredited Grade and examinations outcomes will have regard to the pattern of results in 2020 and previously, with more details of the process to be determined by the Minister having regard to advice from the SEC
➢ A right for students to appeal in respect of their Accredited Grade which will comprise a process review focused on examining possible errors in the transmission and processing of student data.
• Provision as far as practicable for out-of-school learners or students studying one or more subjects outside school to apply to receive Accredited Grades through the devising of an appropriate and practicable process
• It is intended to prepare and publish, in consultation with stakeholders, accessible and detailed guidance for parents, students, teachers and schools to be issued as soon as possible.
Indicative Dates.
The following indicative dates have been provided by the Department of Education:
• May 14th – Closing date for collection of evidence of learning from 6th year student for the purpose of establishing an estimated mark.
• May 28th – Schools will close for all students to allow the final week for completion of alignment process and data entry related to SEC Accredited Grades by schools.
• June 4th – Closing date for schools to enter/return all data from the school to the SEC relating to SEC Accredited Grades.
• June 9th – Written Leaving Certificate examinations to commence in schools.
• The SEC will issue revised dates for submission of Leaving Certificate course work and the scheduling/arrangements for LCA tasks and interviews in the coming days and weeks.
Updates regarding the Leaving Certificate 2021 including an information video can be accessed through the following link
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/d3ea2-leaving-certificate-2021/#leaving-certificate-2021
Enjoy the remainder of your break, we will bring you further information once it comes to hand. Your guidance teachers will be arranging meetings with you next week. I will attend these meetings to go through the process, give you any updates and answer any of your queries.
Mr. Anton O Mahony,
Principal.
Please click on the button below for the Leaving Cert Timetable of 2021