CAO decision ‘victory for free education schools’

THE ending of a system that helps produce lists of schools which send most students to college has been described by teachers as a victory for free education schools.

The Central Applications Office (CAO) has decided not to give codes to colleges indicating which schools their entrants come from. These codes have allowed newspapers apply for data from third-level institutions about which schools provide most students for their courses every autumn.

Teachers Union of Ireland president Derek Dunne said the move should prevent the future publication of lists of college feeder schools in newspapers.

“It’s a victory for public schools and a blow to grinds businesses.”

He said teachers are not calling for restrictions on information made publicly available about schools, but that indicators is needed for an informed choice to be made. These could include pastoral care, special needs provisions, entrance policies and how the school contributes to the growth of the individual, he said. The CAO said the move was made because it could be accused of breaching data protection laws.

“We get school codes to verify exam numbers but the law prevents the use of information gained for one reason being used for another,” a spokesperson said.

“It is wrong to suggest we wanted to do away with league tables, although that issue did bring this matter of concern to our attention. The newspapers in question are only interested in sales rather than information, otherwise they would not publish these inaccurate lists,” he said.

The school codes provided to colleges are based on the school where applicants first sat the Leaving Certificate. This has meant that schools with a high number of repeat Leaving Cert students are not accurately represented in college feeder lists.

The CAO spokesperson said every second-level school receives more accurate information every year, which is also available to parents.

It shows how many students of the school applied for particular courses in each college and how many were offered places.

The Joint Managerial Body (JMB), which represents the boards of most second level schools, also welcomed the CAO decision.

General secretary George O’Callaghan said recently published tables gave a distorted view of what happens in schools.

Education Minister Noel Dempsey did not comment on the CAO decision.