diff --git a/grade/classes/external/get_groups_for_search_widget.php b/grade/classes/external/get_groups_for_search_widget.php
index 9486271d356..55aa1a9e3f6 100644
--- a/grade/classes/external/get_groups_for_search_widget.php
+++ b/grade/classes/external/get_groups_for_search_widget.php
@@ -57,13 +57,9 @@ class get_groups_for_search_widget extends external_api {
      * @param int $courseid
      * @param string $actionbaseurl The base URL for the group action.
      * @return array Groups and warnings to pass back to the calling widget.
-     * @throws coding_exception
-     * @throws invalid_parameter_exception
-     * @throws moodle_exception
-     * @throws restricted_context_exception
      * @deprecated since 4.2
      */
-    protected static function execute(int $courseid, string $actionbaseurl): array {
+    public static function execute(int $courseid, string $actionbaseurl): array {
         global $DB, $USER, $COURSE;
 
         $params = self::validate_parameters(
diff --git a/grade/report/grader/classes/external/get_users_in_report.php b/grade/report/grader/classes/external/get_users_in_report.php
index e8cd67479c7..5013f6ef163 100644
--- a/grade/report/grader/classes/external/get_users_in_report.php
+++ b/grade/report/grader/classes/external/get_users_in_report.php
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 
 namespace gradereport_grader\external;
 
-use coding_exception;
 use context_course;
 use core_user_external;
 use core_external\external_api;
@@ -26,9 +25,6 @@ use core_external\external_single_structure;
 use core_external\external_value;
 use core_external\external_warnings;
 use grade_report_grader;
-use invalid_parameter_exception;
-use moodle_exception;
-use restricted_context_exception;
 use user_picture;
 
 defined('MOODLE_INTERNAL') || die;
@@ -64,13 +60,10 @@ class get_users_in_report extends external_api {
      *
      * @param int $courseid Course ID to fetch the grader report for.
      * @return array Users and warnings to pass back to the calling widget.
-     * @throws coding_exception
-     * @throws invalid_parameter_exception
-     * @throws moodle_exception
-     * @throws restricted_context_exception
      */
-    protected static function execute(int $courseid): array {
+    public static function execute(int $courseid): array {
         global $PAGE;
+
         self::validate_parameters(
             self::execute_parameters(),
             [
diff --git a/group/classes/external/get_groups_for_selector.php b/group/classes/external/get_groups_for_selector.php
index 3926c1aef4e..8dc43009bd5 100644
--- a/group/classes/external/get_groups_for_selector.php
+++ b/group/classes/external/get_groups_for_selector.php
@@ -58,12 +58,8 @@ class get_groups_for_selector extends external_api {
      *
      * @param int $courseid
      * @return array Groups and warnings to pass back to the calling widget.
-     * @throws coding_exception
-     * @throws invalid_parameter_exception
-     * @throws moodle_exception
-     * @throws restricted_context_exception
      */
-    protected static function execute(int $courseid): array {
+    public static function execute(int $courseid): array {
         global $DB, $USER, $OUTPUT;
 
         $params = self::validate_parameters(