ACCS/info Bulletin 29/19

Fri, May 31st, 2019

The Secretary,
Board of Management and
School Principal in
each Community and Comprehensive School.

Members of the Executive of ACCS.

ACCS/Info Bulletin 29/19

Re: Extension to RACE Scheme in respect of Candidates Suffering Bereavement During the June Examinations

Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh T.D. has announced an extension to the RACE Scheme in respect of candidates suffering bereavement during the June Examinations. The SEC will be arranging to issue details of these interim arrangements by email to schools later today. The key provisions of the scheme are:

  • Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) candidates who are absent from some of their examinations as a consequence of the death of a close relative at the time of the examinations will be allowed sit an alternative paper in those subjects in early July.

  • The scheme will allow for a student to be absent from exams for a three-day period during the June written state examination timetable.

  • The three day period will commence from the date of the death of a close relative up to and including the day after the funeral. These three days do not need to be consecutive.

  • The three day period is intended to allow bereaved candidates some time free from Leaving Certificate examinations to prepare for and attend the funeral of their loved one.

  • The measures will apply in cases where the death of the close relative occurs during exam time, or in the two days prior to the exams commencing on 5th June.

  • The scheme defines a close relative as a father, step-father, mother, step-mother, legal guardian, brother, step-brother, half-brother, sister, step-sister, half-sister, grandfather or grandmother.

  • The scheme will also provide for the death of a son or daughter, wife or husband or civil partner of a Leaving Certificate candidate.

  • The alternative examinations will take place in a location to be arranged by the SEC in Athlone between the 8th and 12th July. The detailed Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied timetables will be provided to schools (essentially it will see the 15 days of the Leaving Certificate written examination timetable collapsed into one week in July, and similar arrangements for LCA).

  • The scheme is being introduced on an interim and pilot basis. It will be reviewed following the 2019 Leaving Certificate.

  • A student who suffers a bereavement and who wishes to take particular exams during the alternative July sittings cannot also sit those same exams during the original June sittings. This is an important point, as we are not providing a repeat examination.

  • The results from the alternative Leaving Certificate examinations will be available at the same time as the main examination results, on 13th August in 2019.

  • The SEC will continue to provide the same supports to candidates suffering trauma and adversity during their examinations as in previous years.

  • The provision does not apply to the Junior Certificate/Cycle examinations, as these are not high stakes examinations.

  • There will be a simple application process delivered as an extension to the existing Emergency Race Application form.

Is mise,
le mór mheas,



_________________
John Irwin,
General Secretary ACCS.

Paul Thornton