Testing times for students

STUDENTS sitting the 2018 Leaving Certificate will face a radically new way of competing for college places under reform plans by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn.

As up to 55,550 school leavers begin English papers this morning, Mr Quinn wants changes being drawn up for the Junior Certificate to be continued through the entire second-level system.

The minister now expects students starting first year in 2013, rather than 2012 as previously indicated, to be the first group to benefit from changes to the junior cycle.