Deferred State Exams 2020 [SEE MOD NOTE POST #1]

2 weeks is tight. A lot could be done in tandem but a good few of the above requires a teacher to be seconded. There's a lot of fantasy.....

TheDriver wrote: »

2 weeks is tight. A lot could be done in tandem but a good few of the above requires a teacher to be seconded. There's a lot of fantasy.....

It’s just unworkable
All of it
But focusing on just this aspect of it

It is inequitable
The “practical “ aspect of Irish and the foreign languages had 100% of marks awarded
Music the same

I am actually despairing at the compete and utter shambles of a “plan” the Dept/Minister have come up with
Who exactly is advising them/him
Depressing and scary

Can’t wait to see what happens if things continue to go pear shaped and July/Aug is a non runner

Remote practicals over Zoom maybe

I can’t even see them having enough superintendents to supervise all these exams especially in Dublin where they are generally short.
Also having no childcare will only add to the shortage.

Hi, I don't have any specific information but I would imagine that you are taking over as would be the norm at any other time of year. Your sub will be going off payroll.

CWF wrote: »

LC Engineering Project deadline was March 6th so tools are down there. You can add the JC Metalwork practical to be done in that two week time frame

Junior Certs aren't coming back in the summer.

deiseindublin wrote: »

I'm thinking since Friday about how implausible it is for schools to have all assessments and practicals done in a 2 week block.

That isn't what was proposed. It was proposed that practical exams take place as part of the main exam timetable in August, so Art, Engineering, Construction, Ag Science would fit in there. My guess is that because there is always a two week window to complete these practicals in May, that similar would happen in August. So a school's construction practical would take place on the day that no construction student has a particular subject, e.g. Home Economics, given that we are led to believe that there will be only one written exam per day.

That would work, the biggest issue there would be the need for practical examiners to assess around the country, as they wouldn't be available to supervise exams. I presume this is why they want the examiners who usually supervise JC to be used.

I’d say keep an eye on developments. I’d imagine that it will be negotiated with the department re paying subs to work during the summer. Teachers in parental leave, maternity leave, sick leave etc are all in the same boat.

To be honest, it would be very disruptive for pupils to have a new teacher for 2 weeks.

awny wrote: »

I’d say keep an eye on developments. I’d imagine that it will be negotiated with the department re paying subs to work during the summer. Teachers in parental leave, maternity leave, sick leave etc are all in the same boat.

To be honest, it would be very disruptive for pupils to have a new teacher for 2 weeks.

Very disruptive? Relative to what's going on at the moment it's not gonna effect them and sure in normal times isn't this a regular enough occurance?

rainbowtrout wrote: »

That isn't what was proposed. It was proposed that practical exams take place as part of the main exam timetable in August, so Art, Engineering, Construction, Ag Science would fit in there. My guess is that because there is always a two week window to complete these practicals in May, that similar would happen in August. So a school's construction practical would take place on the day that no construction student has a particular subject, e.g. Home Economics, given that we are led to believe that there will be only one written exam per day.

That would work, the biggest issue there would be the need for practical examiners to assess around the country, as they wouldn't be available to supervise exams. I presume this is why they want the examiners who usually supervise JC to be used.

It was my understanding that the LC Practicals would take place in that two week period

CWF wrote: »

It was my understanding that the LC Practicals would take place in that two week period

https://www.examinations.ie/misc-doc/EN-EX-59606118.pdf

Practical tests in Art, Engineering and Construction studies due to commence on 27th April and
the oral and practical performance tests in the Leaving Certificate Applied programme due to
take place in May, will now be rescheduled for the July/August period

My thoughts on this:

Every solution to the current situation has problems. In my opinion, predicted grades brings fewer problems than the other options.

In mid-March when we closed up, it seemed quite possible that we'd be open by May. Now that seems unthinkable. There's a good chance that as we approach the end of June, opening in July will similarly seem unthinkable and unattractive. If that is the case, the Dept/State Exams will have to resort to predictive grades. Except now, schools are closed, it will have been almost 4 months since we have seen our students, some contracts will have ended, and there is less time to handle appeals and organise exams for those who cannot access predicted grades (students studying a subject e.g. a language, outside of a class).

If opening in July is feasible there are many families of students who may not be keen to send their teenager into a group environment if there are older/immunocompromised people at home. If their parents are nurses/doctors, it may not be wise to send in their students to a busy school, given the amount of infection in HCWs.

There are also many teachers, especially 50+ who would be nervous to approach groups of teenagers so soon.

I would guess the median age of exam superintendents is 50+, given what I've seen in the last few years (retired teachers who get the contract each year). I doubt many will see spending 5/6 hours a day with a group in a room as being worth the money. I apply (and don't get it) every single year, I could do with the money, but not a chance will I sign up for sitting in a confined space with groups of people for days on end this summer. They will also need more superintendents this summer for extra centres(could use the JC ones I guess).

Regular colds and coughs haven't gone away, if a student has even the slightest of symptoms they cannot show for July school or exams. What then? Even if they have a negative test result, students will not sit in a room for 3 hours with a person coughing.

Giving over a chunk of the new school year to 15 year olds attempting to answer exam questions on material they haven't studied since May (or March!) is a whole other post! The JCT seem to be adamant assessment tasks will also have to be completed. Non-stop exams until November?

There are problems with predicted grades, however I think there are fewer than with delayed exams. I would be happy to give predicted grades; I have enough assessment results on paper from the last year to back up any grades I give out. A clear set of guidelines that explicitly prohibits canvassing (phonecalls from parents demanding a H1), an appeal process that allows the students to sit a paper if they feel they have been wronged (very few students = easier to accomodate) and a lot less stress for thousands of people.

Msbookeeper wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the input, my sub is local to the area of the school so hopefully he can carry on without any hassle.

Would you be applying for unpaid leave then? Again I've only my own experience to compare to but unless you're on approved/unpaid leave surely a sub won't be paid to teach your classes?

History Queen wrote: »

Would you be applying for unpaid leave then? Again I've only my own experience to compare to but unless you're on approved/unpaid leave surely a sub won't be paid to teach your classes?

My understanding is that this cannot be imposed on teachers so it’ll be voluntary. Do you think teachers with underlying health conditions or in other at risk groups should be docked pay or have to use sick leave/unpaid leave to be excused from something which involves working on their annual leave?