The ISSU welcomes the decision, by Minister Joe McHugh,on the revised arrangements for the Junior Certificate State Examinations previously deferred to Autumn 2020. The decision has been made to allow schools to make the final decision in assessing and reporting on students achievements and learning .

ISSU members,from the Junior Certificate cohort, were overwhelmingly in favour of cancellation of examinations. 77% of Junior Cycle participants, who responded to the ISSU survey on State Examinations, selected the cancellation of examinations as their first preference. While predicted grading will not be used in the current model, the Department has specified that “schools will be given the autonomy to decide whether to run school-based assessments and what form they take.” Junior Cycle students will receive a written report outlining the broad range of learning they have completed throughout the three year programme. 

The ISSU also welcomes clarification that the Department of Education & Skills will provide state certification for completion of the Junior Certificate programme, which is pivotal for students who may choose alternative routes of education and training after completion of this milestone. 

I am in Junior Certificate, what do I do now? 

Your school will now begin to plan how they are going to complete the assessment and reporting of students' learning and achievements. Schools currently have a reporting mechanism in place and additional resources will be made available to schools to assist in this process. 

Assessment reports may be completed based on work completed prior to the school closures and the teachers professional knowledge of each students’ learning and achievement. Schools may want to continue with some form of additional assessment or end of year assignment.The options for assessment are outlined in the Department of Education and Skills official statement. In circumstances where students are unable to undertake any additional assessment due to issues arising from the Covid-19 crisis the assessment of students’ learning and report on achievement may be solely based on the work completed prior to the closure of schools.We encourage schools to be mindful and aware of the digital divide, special educational needs and resources available to students at home, if they decide to use assignments to make up the final grade. 

We encourage students to contact their own schools with their views on the possibility of exams being held, to bring these views also to the student council, and to liaise with parents and guardians to ensure that this voice is strengthened and united. 

Below is the press release in full from the Department of Education, dated 29th April 2020. 

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- All third year Junior Cycle students to be awarded certificates for the completion of Junior Cycle by the Department of Education and Skills

- Schools given autonomy to assess students and all students to receive a report on achievement

- Adult learners to be given opportunity to take final Junior Cycle examinations in autumn

The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD has today (Wednesday 29 April 2020) announced revised arrangements for this year’s Junior Cycle.

The decision was taken following recommendations from an advisory group of stakeholders as part of planning for the State Examinations in response to the Covid-19 public health measures and the decision that the Junior Cycle State Examinations will not run this year.

Minister McHugh attended the meeting of the advisory group and thanked the members for their work.

Minister McHugh said:

“In this difficult time for students I have listened to the very strongly-held and well-articulated views of students, parents and other stakeholders,”

“This decision has been made with the health and wellbeing of students, parents and teachers at the forefront of our thinking.

“It gives students and their families more clarity and certainty. It also gives schools freedom to decide how best to assess the progress of students following three years of hard work and learning.”

Under the revised arrangements and in light of the exceptional circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the work and achievement of third year Junior Cycle students will be recognised with a state certificate from the Department of Education and Skills.

As soon as possible after the end of the current school year, students will receive a written school report on their learning achievements in each subject, short course and/or priority learning unit

Schools are also being given autonomy to decide whether to run school-based assessments and what form they take. Options to consider include school-designed examinations, tasks, projects, assignments, essay style questions, presentations, or other tasks agreed at a local level. Guidance for schools on reporting to students and parents, developed with the advice of the advisory group of stakeholders, will be published by the Department.

The State Examinations Commission is also being asked to put in place specific arrangements for adult learners to give them an opportunity to take final Junior Cycle examinations for which they are entered in autumn 2020

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