Quinn to propose Leaving Cert with new system of grading

A new system of Leaving Certificate grades — each 10% apart — is the most likely to be formally proposed to Education Minister Ruairi Quinn soon as part of a plan to ease pressures on students chasing points for college.

A reduction in the number of grading bands from the current 14 (A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, and so on) was one of three main commitments to emerge from a 2011 conference where second-level and higher education leaders tried to find ways of easing the transition to third level for school-leavers.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) should make its final advice to Education Minister Ruairi Quinn on the issue in June, having deferred a decision at last month’s meeting. But the Irish Examiner has learned the system most favoured is one where grades would be in 10% bands, ie, 90% to 100%, 80% to 90%, 70% to 80% and so on.