Massive changes in how students will be assessed

Major changes to the Junior Cert syllabus will give students the opportunity to receive marks on performances outside exam rooms.

 

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) will introduce eight new courses in the coming years.

 

Draft proposals have already been outlined for some of these courses, which will give mums and dads an idea of what's to come.

 

Pupils will be expected to demonstrate how they will apply their learnings in real-life situations and will also be marked on action-based projects.

 

The programming and coding course will give pupils the chance to develop games and apps, while physical education will expect students to show how they have developed their commitment to physical activity.

 

These radical changes will help pupils recognise their own strengths and talents, while allowing them to receive credit for hands-on work.

 

It is aimed at encouraging experimental learning for students and it will also help improve a system that is currently based around sit-down exams.