Carol Nolan warns assessment changes could extend student stress
Carol Nolan spoke about proposed changes to the timing of senior cycle assessments, expressing concern they could unintentionally extend stress for students. She argued that moving components into fifth year may disadvantage pupils who undertake a gale tuck and add pressure over a longer period.
Main concerns about extended assessment periods
Carol Nolan warned the shift to sitting paper one in both subjects in fifth year could spread assessment stress over two years. She said students who wish to attend the gale tuck in fifth year may be disadvantaged because they will not have completed their stint there before sitting the Irish paper one in the Leaving Cert as currently structured.
Orals and practical arrangements remain in sixth year
She noted that the Orals will still take place in sixth year and are likely to be scheduled over the Easter period as in recent years. Those Orals will continue to be supported by any additional trips students undertake to the gale tuck and by school-based preparation.
Student wellbeing and arguments for spreading assessment
Carol Nolan acknowledged the rationale for spreading assessments, saying it can lessen the burden of facing everything in one day and reduce the high-stakes pressure in June. She referenced practice in other jurisdictions and the LCA as examples where spreading assessment is seen to work well, arguing a two-year approach could better showcase students' talents and support wellbeing.
Concerns for teachers and quicker preparation timelines
She also warned the change may require students to be prepared more quickly and could create difficulties and challenges for teachers as well as pupils. Her comments stressed the need to consider unintended consequences when altering the senior cycle assessment timetable.
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I suppose, look, my concern would be that it could have unintended consequences of having students experience a level of stress of assessments over two years. The fact that they're now going to be sitting the paper one in both subjects in fifth year. And as I say, I do genuinely feel that students who may want to go to the gale tuck in fifth year that summer, at the end of that year, you know, they are being put at a disadvantage because, you know, obviously they won't have their stint done in the gale tuck, which would stand to them when they come to sit the Irish paper one in Leaving Cert as it currently is. I do understand the principle and the rationale of spreading the assessments, but I would be concerned that it will have the unintended consequences of having the stress associated with assessments now over a longer period. And also, I suppose, the, you know, the fact that the students need to be prepared more quickly and that it will also maybe cause a lot of difficulty and challenges for teachers, as well as the students themselves. I suppose just in terms of visits to the gale tuck and that, the Orals will still take place in sixth year. They will take place, likely to take place over the Easter period, as we've seen in the last number of years. And that, you know, obviously, will be supported, the Orals are supported by, you know, whatever additional trips that students might wish to do, to take in terms of a trip to the gale tuck or indeed the work that they do in school or however they, you know, you know, so from that point of view, it will still take place in sixth year. I think, and I absolutely, you know, accept your bona fides and the point that you're raising here, but I do think from the student's point of view, and they are clear that having to face everything in one day is an extraordinary burden and an extraordinary pressure. Having the opportunity to do it over two years lessens that burden. And again, as I say to you, we see that as best practice in other jurisdictions, we see it work well from the LCA point of view. And, you know, it is so as to ensure that students don't feel the high stake of everything depending at one moment, one time in June, far, far too high stake for them. And you would know even from general conversation and general society, there has been a consistent understanding in society that far, far too much pressure has been placed on our senior cycle students in June. It's a very hyped up exam. It's a very, I suppose, you know, so much discussion and conversation around it. I think students deserve a more structured, more even approach over two years, it will give them more opportunity and more accommodation to showcase their talents better. That's the motivation, the well being and student centred approach for the students.
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