Leaving Cert could be assessed over two-year period instead of single set of exams

This would be a major change for students.

A new report shows that the majority of students and teachers are in favour of changing the Leaving Certificate programme from the current set-up of a single series of summer exams, and swapping it out for a staggered assessment over 5th and 6th year. The report originated from as part of a review of the senior cycle by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (via The Irish Times) which involved consultations with over 2,500 students and hundreds of parents and teachers from 41 schools around the country. There is an apparent consensus amongst those consultations that shows the majority are in favour of the Leaving Certificate being much more flexible, with Leaving Cert results based on a series of exams, projects, portfolios, and teamworking exercises over the two years. This would result in credit-based points being racked up over those two school years, with further support in favour of bringing more "real world" elements into the curriculum, such as work experience, interviews, and life skills. As it stands, the Leaving Cert has a minimum of six subjects (with Irish compulsory), but the majority of students around the country studying for at least seven subjects. These new proposals will be fed into a report to Minister for Education Joe McHugh later in 2019, all of which will be considered as options for reforming the senior cycle as it currently stands.