Carol Nolan urges hybrid model for Leaving Start students
Carol Nolan urged a flexible, hybrid approach for Leaving Start students, advocating ongoing assessment, accredited grades and a written exam. She emphasised listening to the student voice and cited reports showing widespread support for a hybrid model.
Call for a hybrid Leaving Start model
Carol Nolan set out a three-part approach she believes should be adopted - ongoing assessment, accredited grades and a written exam - and argued this hybrid model would be fairer to students affected by recent disruption.
Student voice and survey evidence
She referred to correspondence from the Irish second level union and an ISSU report, saying the student voice is clear and that the majority - cited as 85% in the ISSU report - support a hybrid model due to stress and uncertainty.
Concerns about disruption and learning conditions
As a former teacher, Nolan highlighted that students have experienced three years of disruption and described reports from pupils who say they are cold in classrooms and prefabs, affecting concentration and learning.
Appeal to decision-makers
She made a direct appeal to decision-makers to adopt a flexible approach and to heed students' views, stressing fairness for disadvantaged pupils and the need to act on the evidence provided by students and unions.
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I, like others, want to appeal to you to ensure that there is a flexible approach adopted for our Leaving Start students who have been so disadvantaged and disrupted over the last three years. I think that an approach which involves ongoing assessment, accredited grades and a written exam has a role to play in this process and I do want to say that we must listen to the student voice. I know we have all received correspondence from the Irish second level union which tells us quite clearly in a report that they carried out the student voice is very clear and it is obvious that they want a hybrid model because of the stress, anxiety, uncertainty and fear that this report refers to. I mean we are hearing the voices of the students themselves and we certainly must act upon what they are telling us. I feel that the fairest way forward as a former teacher who would have worked with disadvantaged pupils quite a bit, I feel that the fairest way forward here to ensure that no student is disadvantaged is to make sure that there is a flexible model put in place for our Leaving Start students. We have to bear in mind that they have had three years of disruption. I have received direct reports from students who tell me that they are cold in classrooms and prefabs and that is having a bearing on them as well in terms of their concentration levels and everything else. So I feel that we have to be fair with them. As the Irish saying goes, Mul an oiga agus teoc is si. I do believe that certainly listening to the student voice is paramount here in this whole debate. and I would call on you and I know you are doing your best with this situation, indeed a difficult situation, but I would appeal to you to please do your best and take on board student voice. The majority of students, 85% are telling us, as reported in a report carried out by the ISSU, that they want a hybrid model. Gaurav Margit. Gaurav Margit. Gaurav Margit. E. EME devoir Margit. Gaurav Margit. G. EME G. EME EME EME EME EME EME EME
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