"Best ever" Leaving Cert results celebrated

But principals express fears over impact of grade inflation

Principals from secondary schools in Athlone have expressed concerns about grade inflation in the wake of Leaving Cert results which have been described as “the best ever” for the class of 2023.

Among the principals to express concern was Brendan Waldron, from Coláiste Chiaráin in Summerhill where 62 students sat their Leaving Cert exam this year with many of them achieving in excess of 500 points, and one student, Lorcan Shanahan, son of Ann and Alan from Clonown, celebrating the maximum 625 points.

“Overall the results exceeded all our expectations,” said Brendan Waldron. “We had an exceptional group of students who were faced with many challenges along the way, including the interruption of Covid, but they bounced back and got on with it, showing huge resilience.”

Mr Waldron said there was “great excitement” on Friday last when students came in to share their results as they were “the very first students” to go through their entire secondary education in the new school.

All students who sat the Higher Level Maths paper got their bonus points, but the principal said the the issue of grade inflation in the post-Covid era is “an area of concern” for everyone involved in education.

“The Leaving Cert has to be about more than just points,” he argues, “and my concern is that everything is now being viewed through the lens of what points can be achieved, which is far from ideal.” He added that “reform is needed.”

This is a view which was also echoed by the Principal of Athlone Community College, Eileen Donohoe, where over 200 students sat their Leaving Cert and three students achieved a perfect score across the board with 7H1s, which represents 625 points.

The three top achieving students in the school were Johanna Hughes, daughter of Monica and Dermot Hughes from Kiltoom; Zanya Ganly from Glasson, whose parents are Alice and Paul, and Shauna Loftus, daughter of Hubert and Monica from Kiltoom.

“Grade inflation worries me, and the only way it can be stopped is if we hasten the plan to reform the Leaving Cert exam,” according to Eileen Donohoe. “We need to get away from the current system of rote learning.”

Athlone Community College had its “best results day ever” on Friday last, according to the principal, but she stressed that “every student matters” regardless of the points they have achieved. She points out that 70% of students who sat the Leaving Cert Applied achieved distinctions.

“There is life after the Leaving Cert, and the students who really stand out to me are those who have achieved against the odds, as life can be so cruel and so difficult for some students.”

Having said that, Eileen Donohoe is keen to acknowledge the hard work of the students who achieved in excess of 600 points. “That doesn't happen by chance either,” she says, “and it is so important for students adopt a balanced approach to their studies and to keep up their sport, their music, their debating or whatever else they are involved in.”

Among the concerns expressed by the Athlone Community College principal in relation to grade inflation is the spectre of college places being allocated for the more popular courses by means of a lottery system. “You could have students getting places on courses that they are not able for, and other students who would love a place missing out, so the buck has to stop somewhere and the sooner we see reform of the Leaving Cert the better for all concerned,” she says.

For the students who sat their exams in ACC, the majority of them are planning to pursue third-level courses in the areas of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), with interest in engineering courses proving to be “very popular” according to the principal, and interest in apprenticeship courses “a bit down on previous years.”

A similar situation exists in Our Lady's Bower, where 100 girls sat their Leaving Cert, with the majority planning to go on to study STEM subjects at third-level. “There is a huge interest in the whole area of science, things like medicine and dentistry and there are huge opportunities for young women right across the board in STEM and that is where they are being encouraged to go” says Principal Anne Beades.

Ms Beades said the results in The Bower were “fantastic this year” with one student, Laoise O'Donovan, daughter of John and Niamh from Curramore, Kiltoom and Mary Doyle, daughter of Angela and Gerry from Custume Pier, Athlone, achieving 625 points, with Laoise, obtaining 7H1s and Mary securing 6H1s.

For the first time ever, the all-girls school had a student who achieved a perfect 100% score across the board in her exams, in the person of Leaving Cert Applied student, Saoirse O'Regan, daughter of John and Deirdre from Barrymore, Kiltoom.

Overall, 20% of students in the Bower achieved in excess of 555 points, and a further 67% achieved over 400 points. However, like many principals, Anne Beades has concerns about grade inflation, and says it is “of particular concern” to the students who are now going into their Leaving Cert cycle as there is “more pressure than ever” on them. Ms Beades says she is “not quite sure” why grade inflation is still being applied and adds that the system will have to revert to “the old way of scoring exams” in the near future.

Tom Lowry, Principal of Moate Community School said many students in the class of 2023 have also expressed “a strong interest” in pursuing STEM subjects at third-level, but he has urged students “not to make rash decisions” once the CAO issue their first round of college place offers this morning (Wednesday).

With a chronic shortage of teachers at both primary and post-primary level, Mr Lowry says there is still interest in teaching courses, and business is also strong, but he added that it can be “quite difficult” to see any particular trends emerging due to the huge number of courses available to students at third-level.

“I am a big advocate of encouraging students to look at all their options and take their time in making a decision about their next step after secondary school as there is a course to suit everyone and to suit every ability,” he says.

A total of 115 students sat the Leaving Cert in Moate Community College this year, with three students, Conall Mandal from Mount Temple, Julia Krol from Kilbeggan and Laura Conlon from Streamstown achieving the maximum 625 points, and a further seven students achieving over 600 points.

One-third of all students in the school achieved over 500 points and Tom Lowry says that, in view of the high results achieved by students across the country, it is “very likely” that a lottery system will be put in place for the most popular college courses.

Some 77 students sat their Leaving Cert in Marist College and, in line with previous years, Principal Michael Dermody said all students had performed “extremely well” in the areas of science and maths.

While 8% of students in the Marist achieved in excess of 600 points and a further one-third secured over 500 points, Michael Dermody was keen to point out that “it's not all about the very high achievers” as notably, nine out of every ten students who sat the Leaving Cert in Marist College achieved over 300 points.

English and history results this year were particularly good, with students achieving triple the national average in honours level history. “We will hopefully have a fine batch of future historians from the school,” remarked the Marist Principal, who added that English results were “double the national average.”

Having a strong tradition in STEM, this year was no exception at the Marist with 40% of students achieving a H1 in Applied Maths and Accountancy, and a further quarter achieving a H1 in Higher Level Maths. 50% of all the Marist exam students secured a H2 in Honours Maths.

“A lot of our students would have opted for the areas of engineering, science and business at third-level, and that trend seems to be continuing this year,” said Mr Dermody. However, he pointed out there has been “an upsurge of interest” in health science and sports science among students.