Additional assessments could increase stress for Leaving Cert students

Additional assessment components are expected to be worth 40% of a student's overall grade. In the science subjects, this is likely to take the form of an individual experiment to be carried out by students.

Teachers have “identified more challenges than opportunities” when it comes to introducing additional assessments as part of Leaving Cert science and fear they will lead to increased stress for students.

The detail is included in a report compiled by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) following consultation with teachers and students on the changes to Leaving Cert biology, physics and chemistry due to be rolled out from next September. 

Assessments, called additional assessment components (AAC) are planned to be introduced in every subject under Senior Cycle reform. 

They are expected to be worth 40% of a student's overall grade. In the science subjects, this is expected to take the form of an individual experiment to be carried out by students.

Many of those taking part in the consultation with the NCCA acknowledged the "range of opportunities" associated with the proposed AACs, with students in particular welcoming “the reduction in stress” these could bring, the report notes.

More challenges than opportunities in proposed model

“However, in general, participants across all modes of the consultation identified more challenges than opportunities in relation to the model of the AAC, as set out in the draft specifications.”

The report notes that the model proposed sets out to reduce the assessment load on students through assessing learning outcomes. 

Up to 20 hours of class time is planned to be allocated for working on and completing the project. 

"Feedback from the consultation suggests that the proposed model of the AAC would have the opposite effect on both fronts, that is, the biology, chemistry and physics in practice investigations would not be integrated into everyday teaching and learning and would not be time bound to 20 hours," the report noted. 

"The feedback suggests that it is perceived that this will become an ‘event’ in sixth year that requires teachers to halt teaching and learning for a prolonged period of time, leading to increased stress and workload for students and teachers."

There was also a concern noted that this would result in a reluctance by students to pick more than one Leaving Certificate science subject.

While the majority of students welcomed the AAC as part of consultations with the NCCA, "citing reasons such as taking the pressure off the final exam and supporting their learning within the subject", concerns were also expressed by some about the potential of "spreading the stress over a longer period of time, as well as concerns about equity".

A spokesman for the Department of Education said it understands "the importance of ensuring that adequate support is provided" to schools in implementing the new specifications. 

The department is examining how schools can be best supported in the roll-out, he added.

"This will include considering any resource and facilities needs ahead of the introduction of revised specifications."