Education Minister Peter Weir has announced changes to exams during 2020/21.
It comes as classes throughout Belfast have been disrupted with schools having to send pupils home because of outbreaks of Covid-19. The changes are to take account of the disruption for pupils to date due to the pandemic and the potential for further impacts over the coming months.
Among the changes, Year 14 pupils will not have to take AS examinations and, in the majority of GCSE qualifications a specified module will be omitted from assessment. All assessments in GCSE Maths will be retained but the speaking and listening component of GCSE English Language is to be omitted. GCSE, AS and A-Level exams will begin a week later than planned.
Education Minister Weir said: “Today, I am announcing changes to exams and assessments this academic year which I have instructed CCEA to implement. They take account of the disruption for pupils to date due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the potential for further impacts over the coming months.
Today, I am announcing changes to exams and assessments this academic year which I have instructed CCEA to implement. They take account of the disruption for pupils to date due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the potential for further impacts over the coming months.
“My key priority is to ensure that all Northern Ireland students will have the opportunity to obtain portable qualifications, comparable to those of other jurisdictions that will enable them to succeed in future study and employment.
“These changes are also designed to free up teaching time, reduce pressure on students and allow assessments to be undertaken within current public health restrictions.”
The timetable for the summer exam series will be delayed by one week with exams starting no earlier than 12 May 202, but concluding by 30 June. Results will issue at the end of August.
The Minister said: “Following the cancellation of exams last summer, it is important that students have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through the exam process.
“It is my priority to ensure that public examinations go ahead, if at all possible. Sitting examinations is a proven way to generate fair and reliable outcomes for pupils.”
The Minister said he hoped the announcement will "relieve some of the uncertainty and help students focus on the important task of preparing for their exams".
"The public health crisis has not gone away and we must balance the difficult task of providing a degree of certainty for young people and teachers whilst recognising the need to be flexible and able to respond quickly to changing circumstances.
“Contingency plans are being drawn up to be available should we need to respond quickly to changing circumstances.”
