Results add up for students

IT’S really adding up for maths students at a Cork secondary school.

Alan O’Regan, from Murmount, Montonette, has just received an award from the Irish Mathematics Teachers’ Association for achieving the highest results in the subject in the last Leaving Certificate exam.

The award, believed to be for a 100% A1, was presented to Alan last Friday night at a special ceremony in his old school, Christian Brothers College, Cork.

He is now studying mathematical science at UCC.

His former teacher, Donal O’Mahony, said in recent years the same award had been won by three former CBC students.

“The national average for Higher Maths is 13% for As whereas in our school the average is 63%. The national average for A1s is 5.7%, while we’re at 41% and the national average for A2s is 7.5% while ours is 22%,” Mr O’Mahony said.

CBC has also won the All-Ireland Senior Maths Quiz for the last two years.

Mr O’Mahony believes the school’s success is down to letting pupils learn from their own mistakes and not making them fear making mistakes in the first place.

“We also hold lots of maths competitions and quizzes outside class. The teachers are very good at sharing resources which definitely strengthens the maths department and benefits the pupils,” Mr O’Mahony said.

He described Alan as “a super student” who is “very smart and very capable”.