Leaving Cert English Reform

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(from an INOTE Executive communication to members)

At the recent annual conference of the Irish National Organisation for Teachers of English attendees were surveyed on their thoughts about the current redevelopment proposals for Leaving Cert English - i.e. an Additional Assessment Component (AAC) at the end of 5th Year, worth 40%, and a single exam at the end of 6th Year, worth 60%. The numbers speak for themselves:

  • 69% DO NOT want to see an AAC

  • 88% DO NOT want an AAC at the end of 5th Year

  • 87% are AGAINST the idea of having a SINGLE EXAM at the end of 6th Year

  • 88% think the new proposals will UNDERMINE EQUITY of attainment for students

  • 90% think STUDENT STRESS LEVELS will be INCREASED

  • 86% think the current HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS will be UNDERMINED

The same issues were mentioned repeatedly by attendees:

  • The current proposals undermine the uniquely iterative nature of English study, preventing students the time and space needed to develop and refine their personal voices.

  • The AACs cannot uphold the integrity of the current assessment model as they are too vulnerable to abuse by A.I., thus rendering them completely unsuitable for assessment.

  • AACs at the end of 5th Year will discriminate against students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, students who do not do TY, and boys, whose mental development needs the full two year cycle to mature.

  • Having AACs in every subject, each worth 40% minimum) will create a stress-saturated learning experience for students from the end of 5th Year all the way to the terminal exams at the end of 6th Year.

  • The redevelopment process is moving way too fast and needs slower, more careful thinking.

More:

  • I’ve written extensively about the previous proposal to bring Paper 1 into Fifth Form - the current idea is similar except that the AAC task is not in an exam.

  • My Irish Times piece on the serious threat posed by GenAI and to AACs and the integrity of the Leaving Certificate qualification.

  • Conor Murphy has been interviewed on radio stations this week explaining why the proposed reforms go against the principles of English, especially the idea of introducing high-stakes assessment in Fifth Year (AACs might well be suited to other subjects). Here with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio, and another good example is his interview with Patricia Messinger of Cork Today -