To ask the Minister of Education (i) under what circumstances may a student who has been advised to self-isolate by their school be able to sit their scheduled exam in November, if it falls within the period of self-isolation; (ii) whether, for example, a recent negative COVID-19 test, accompanied by segregation and the use of personal protective equipment, would suffice; and (iii) whether such a student may choose to be awarded either a centre assessed grade based on their recent mock exam or an overall teacher assessed grade instead of taking a scheduled re-sit.

The Department published Public Health Guidance to Support Public Examinations on 19 November 2020.

This guidance sets out arrangements that schools, education settings and other examination centres should implement when delivering public examinations during November 2020 and the rest of the 2020/21 academic year, enabling them to progress in a way which significantly reduces the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission.

Schools, education settings and other exam centres must follow the public health advice in the Coronavirus (Covid-19) guidance for schools and educational settings in Northern Ireland (published 29 September 2020) and more general guidance published by the Public Health Agency.

(i) and (ii) Current Public Health Advice in respect of these questions is the student must self-isolate. Students cannot take examinations during their period of isolation. In these cases CCEA will provide advice directly on contingency arrangements.

(iii) Centre Assessment Grades cannot be utilised in place of public examination outcomes in the CCEA November 2020 series of examinations.