Changes being made in the AS level examination arrangements to ease the pressures on pupils and schools have been welcomed by the Education Minister Martin McGuinness.

Mr McGuinness said the introduction of the new arrangements would benefit all concerned, both in terms of the number of modular examinations being taken and the reduced possibility of timetable clashes.

The new changes also mean that pupils will now be able to take all of the written examination requirements of a full AS level in a single half-day session of up to three hours, instead of a possible four and a half hours in separate sessions.

The changes proposed are a result of a review taken of the new AS levels between education authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. An interim report, published in July looked at problems experienced in the first year of implementation of the post-16 reforms ‘Curriculum 2000’, and in particular with the introduction of the new AS levels. This interim report, received in July, promised a two-stage review. The first stage was to bring forward proposals on what changes could be introduced from the beginning of this year’s school year to ease these pressures.

The Joint Council for General Qualifications are to provide further details on the new arrangements later this week.

However the new arrangements will only apply to some 70 per cent of subjects taking place in the summer of 2002 and the remainder of subjects from the following year.

There are no changes being made for the summer A2 examinations, as teachers will have already planned their programmes and in some cases already begun their teaching, before the end of last term.

The education minister explained that to introduce new arrangements at this stage could cause confusion and lead to further stress for those involved.

Mr McGuinness added: “Work on possible changes in the overall arrangements will continue and I look forward to receiving the final report from CCEA on the review by the end of this year.” (AMcE)