Back to the future? Reflections from 25 years of empirical research on Leaving Certificate assessment in Ireland

Post-primary students in Ireland are awarded the Leaving Certificate after passing the required assessments that occur in the final year of senior-cycle education. While planned changes have introduced incremental adjustments as to how assessment in this state-certified qualification is undertaken, recent unplanned events such as the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated discussions on future assessment reforms. As we arrive at the centenary of the Leaving Certificate’s foundation, it seems timely to review the empirical research that has been conducted on the assessment approaches that it currently uses.

Taking the publication of the Commission on the Points System in 1999 as a starting point and using Arksey and O’Malley’s. [(2005)]. “Scoping Studies: Towards a Methodological Framework.” International Journal of Social Research Methodology 8 (1): 19–32. https://doi-org.ezproxy-prd.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/10.1080/1364557032000119616] six-step approach for scoping reviews, 107 publications up to 2024 were included in this study. Analysis and synthesis of the studies resulted in five broad research topics: Curriculum Development and Assessment Reform, Maths and Science Education, Fairness, Transition to Higher Education, and Emergency Measures.

The results of this study highlight past research and policy priorities as well as gaps within the existing literature. It is hoped that the freely available database arising from this study will help to inform future research and policy agendas pertaining to Leaving Certificate assessment.

https://doi-org.ezproxy-prd.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/10.1080/03323315.2024.2441158

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