To ask the Minister of Education what consideration is being given to allow for an exemption, subject to distancing and ventilation as well as lateral flow testing, to enable performance exams for music at A Level, AS Level and GCSE to proceed.

In line with the Executive’s, “Moving Forward: The Executive’s Pathway Out of Restrictions”, a full return of all post-primary pupils was allowed from 12 April. In light of the advice from the Department of Health and the Public Health Agency, and in order to allow the focus to be on ensuring that all pupils were able to return to school and maintain the core curriculum, additional mitigations were put in place.

As stated in my letter of 1 April, singing and the playing of woodwind and brass instruments indoors was temporarily paused. It was, however, permissible to continue in an outdoor setting and no further restrictions were placed on any other practical lessons in schools.

My Department has continued to engage with the Department of Health on this issue and I have written to schools on 14 April to advise that, with immediate effect, pupils taking a practical music assessment for GCSE, AS-level and A-level qualifications that require singing or the playing of a woodwind or brass instrument will be permitted to take these lessons as normal in suitable venues i.e. where mitigations, such as social distancing and using well-ventilated rooms, can take place.