Leaving Cert Special - The results
The range of study or training options available to students disappointed with their Leaving Certificate results has been stressed by educators.
While almost 57,000 students picked up their grades from schools yesterday, including almost 3,000 who completed the alternative Leaving Certificate Applied programme, many may have not got what they expected.
Although the first round of Central Applications Office (CAO) offers will not issue until Monday, guidance counsellors and other experts have been handling a range of queries on points requirements and other topics.
Among the main issues on a live online Q&A for Leaving Certificate students, hosted by the Irish Examiner and University College Cork websites, were anticipated points for particular courses; the procedures for appealing grades; and details about college registration and accommodation. It will operate again this afternoon from 3pm to 4pm, and also on Monday after CAO round 1 offers are made.
The lines were also busy at the National Parents’ Council-Post Primary helpline — 180 265 165 — staffed by members of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, whose vice-president reminded students and parents of the range of options available if they were disappointed with results yesterday.
“Further education colleges and post-Leaving Certificate courses can be used as a stepping stone to higher education, or some students might consider the UCAS system for places in the UK,” said Mai Kerins.
“Repeating the Leaving Cert is an option if someone genuinely feels they have an extra bit to give, if they could have taken a more focused approach or maybe if they feel they didn’t perform their best because of health or other reasons,” she said.
Another increase in numbers taking higher level maths this year was further welcomed yesterday. Of all students who took maths exams, 14,326 (or 27%) did the honours papers, an increase from 26% last year, 22% in 2012 and just 16% in 2011, the last year before colleges gave 25 extra CAO points for passing higher level maths.
Science Foundation Ireland communications director Ruth Freeman said this increase and the growth in numbers sitting science subjects were encouraging.
“These young people’s achievements will ensure that Ireland continues to produce a pool of skilled graduates who will help to attract foreign investment and go on to create cutting-edge products and services of tomorrow.”
The numbers taking chemistry rose by almost 450 to 8,604 and 84% of them did the higher level exam, while the 7,177 who did physics represents an 11% increase since 2013. Institute of Physics chair Peter van der Burgt said it was an indication that increased demand for science and engineering at third-level was filtering down to school level, but he raised concern that nearly one-in-four schools did not offer the subject.
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TOP RESULTS - ‘Work hard and do your best’ — the secret to student’s nine A1s success
A Dublin student was on top of the world after securing more top marks than any other with nine higher level A1s in his Leaving Certificate.
But Conor Gallagher, a student of St Michael’s College near his home in Ballsbridge, said there is no real secret to his success.
“Everyone knows if you just work hard and do your best, but also keep a balance in your life. I played a bit of soccer and rugby in school myself,” he said.
After a tough year coming up to his exams, he is looking forward to spending some time in Kerry with his family before starting college next month.
With the top marks in the country, he should have no problems getting onto the business and law degree he has applied for at University College Dublin.
“I was a bit taken aback this morning, I thought I’d done very well but my mock results were nothing close to this,” said Conor.
Kevin Ryan, one of 12 students hot on Conor’s trail with eight higher level A1s, was taking it all in his stride too.
“I just got the results from the principal and I didn’t know what to say, I was stunned,” said the 19-year-old from Whitechurch, a few miles north of Cork City, who attended Coláiste an Chroí Naofa in Carraig na bhFear.
He should now get a place on his first-preference degree, pharmacy at University College Cork, when first-round offers are made by the Central Applications Office (CAO) on Monday.
“I think it was around 565 points last year, and I was a little worried whether I’d get enough but I should be fine now,” said Kevin.
With three science subjects and French taken in school, in addition to English, Irish and maths, he also found time to take classes for Leaving Certificate music in his personal time.
He plays piano and violin, and was a member of the Cork Youth Orchestra ahead of the final preparations for the exams.
His proud mother Bríd, a primary school teacher, said his success without taking grinds was a sign of the education system’s strengths.
“It’s a huge credit to his school, the teachers there were excellent, and he worked hard himself too,” she said.
For two students of Cork’s Christian Brothers College, eight A1s were also on their results sheets yesterday morning. And both could be following the same path in a few weeks if their CAO applications are successful.
“I want to study medicine at Trinity in Dublin, I think I should be okay,” said Jack Hartnett from Montenotte.
His friend Tim Fannon who got the same results yesterday has applied for the same course and they hope to start the course together.
“My mum is from Dublin, so I already know some people up there,” said Tim, who is from Cobh. “I wasn’t really expecting to get all those A1s, I was pretty surprised,” he said.
Others with eight higher level A1s include Matthew Kavanagh, from Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, who did his Leaving Certificate at Cistercian College, Roscrea, Co Tipperary.
He was one of just 12 students with 12 Junior Certificate As three years ago, but has plenty other strings to his bow, including his role as captain of the school’s North Leinster-winning hurling team and part of last year’s winning All-Ireland German debating team.
The other top-scoring students include five from Dublin schools and students from schools in Donegal, Galway, and Sligo.
-9 A1s: 1 student
-8 A1s: 12 students
-7 A1s: 37
-6 A1s: 112
-5 A1s: 185
-4 A1s: 340
-3 A1s: 547
-2 A1s: 1,125
-1 A1: 3,511
‘Great day for people with disabilities’
Inspirational campaigner for disability rights Joanne O’Riordan has hailed it as “a great day for people with disabilities” after she secured a full scholarship to University College Cork.
Joanne, who was born without limbs, will begin a three-year course in criminology at UCC within weeks after her Leaving Certificate results helped her qualify for UCC’s new Quercus Talented Students’ Programme, worth up to €10,000.
She will be among the first intake of students under the active citizen programme which recognises a person’s work in the community.
Joanne said she was “gobsmacked” by the offer which will provide her with all the necessary tools to have a great college experience.
“It’s a fantastic day. I have always wanted to go to university and be part of a wider network of education,” she said.
“What UCC have offered me is simply unbelievable. I have always wanted to show people that irrespective of your disability or background you can achieve the best in life if you set your mind to it.”
Joanne said UCC had gone the extra mile to adapt the student accommodation complex where she will live for the next three years.
“They are making the environment in which I will study more accessible,” she said.
“I hope that these changes will not only help me, but others like me.
“I want people to know and understand that education is a way to a better life.
“Education should be inclusive and open to all abilities.
“We need to invest in our future because our future is the key to our success as a country,” she said.
“Today is not just a good day for people with disabilities, it’s a great day. Roll on the good times.”
Her parents said they were very proud of her.
“Joanne has been extremely lucky with her education and while over the years we’ve had to fight to get her certain things to help her, the fight has been worth it,” her mother, Ann, said.
Her father, Joe, said when Joanne sets her mind to doing something, she does it.
“I’m so proud of her simply because the start she had in life was difficult but we have jumped those hurdles and this is what has happened,” he said.
A spokesman for UCC said talent comes in many forms.
“The mentoring and support on offer through the Quercus programme will help these students hone their own unique offerings even further,” he said.
“While the Leaving Certificate may be used to recognise academic talent, some students may struggle to perform to the maximum of their academic ability due to social and cultural factors outside of their control, through disability or their commitment to the pursuit of excellence with extra-curricular activities.”
UCC is today supporting over 1,000 students with disabilities with their studies. The university’s disability support service (DSS) provides a range of services to this large body of students who are pursuing a range of undergrad and postgrad degree programmes.
“This number represents a remarkable increase since 1990, when just 80 students were registered with the service,” said DSS head, Mary O’Grady.
“The DSS takes a holistic approach to promoting the independence, wellbeing and success of all students registered with the service.
“The fact the retention and success of students with disabilities is on par with all students across the university is testimony to the capacity and determination of these students to overcome the challenges life throws at them, when given supports tuned to their needs.”
APPRENTICE- ‘Celebrate? I’m going to work’
Leaving Cert graduate Keith Meade was unable to take some personal advice given by the Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan when she visited St Nessan’s Community College in Limerick yesterday morning.
The minister told the Leaving Cert class of 2014: “Now ye can all go and celebrate.”
But Keith had other matters on his mind.
“I have to go back to work,” he said.
Keith, aged 18, has commenced an apprenticeship to become a motor mechanic and is currently placed in a Limerick garage.
“I am very happy with my results. I got exactly what I was aiming for, even better, thank God,” he said.
Keith started his apprenticeship two months ago, straight after sitting the Leaving Cert.
“Solas pick where you go on your apprenticeship and pay for the course. It is four years involving seven phases, split between lectures and on the job in a garage.
“If I did not get the opportunity to take up this apprenticeship I would have gone to college. I want to be a motor mechanic. But after I complete my apprenticeship I can go on to do a master mechanic course.
“With these qualifications I could move on into industry where mechanics are needed to maintain the conveyer belt lines. This would involve more training. It’s the same as a car, if something breaks down on a line, you repair it.
“It’s not far from mechanical engineering. I could go into the aviation industry repairing aircraft, depending on how far I want to go and train.”
Keith said mechanics in this country are trained to far higher level than most other European countries.
Eugene O’Brien, principal of St Nessan’s Community College, said there are now far greater opportunities for students like Keith who want to take up apprenticeships. Mr O’Brien said: “Gone are the days when you went into an apprenticeship and stayed. There are so many avenues now after an apprenticeship whereby a person can go on to technician grade.
“Then from technician grade a person can go into a company and a lot of multinationals would encourage you to take further studies up to engineering degree level.”
An apprentice motor mechanic, he said, could advance to becoming an engineer and due to the practical experience they gained, were far more employable than people who go the theoretical academic route.
While the focus is justifiably on some of the highest flyers in this year’s Leaving Certificate race, a dozen other students are also celebrating an equally impressive state exams achievement.
As part of the Leaving Certificate Applied programme, 12 people with Down Syndrome yesterday blazed a trail for others living with the condition by completing the alternative end of the second-level education course.
A less academic-focussed version of the Leaving Certificate, the Applied course was developed to encourage people who may otherwise drop out of the education system early to continue to reach for their goals.
Unlike the Leaving Certificate system, the alternative course’s results cannot be counted towards third-level, with traditional grades replaced by percentage scores based on credits accumulated over the past two years and written exams last June.
This year, a total of 2,965 people took the Leaving Certificate Applied exam, with 609 achieving a “distinction” grade of 85% or above.
And among this number were a dozen people with Down syndrome including 20-year-old Eleanor Murphy, from Trim in Co Meath, whose impressive 93% result underlines how those living with the condition can achieve and even exceed their goals.
Reacting to her score yesterday, the Scoil Mhuire student’s mother, Liz, said her daughter — who will also travel to Mexico to represent Ireland as a swimmer in the World Down Syndrome Games later this year — has completed a “fantastic” achievement.
“It is such a fantastic achievement. Eleanor is absolutely over the moon and completely overwhelmed.
“I want to pay tribute to her fantastic principal Jaqueline Maher, her special needs assistant Angela Mullen and all the staff at Scoil Mhuire who were behind Eleanor from day one. I am so proud today. This is a great day.”
Bright spark Eleanor — whose chosen subjects were Irish, English, French, Maths, Special Education, Childcare and Craft and Display — received more good news this week when it was confirmed she has been accepted onto a Sports Management and Coaching Course at Dunboyne Institute of Further Education, which begins next month.
Down Syndrome Ireland chief executive, Pat Clarke, said the 20-year-old’s Applied results are “remarkable”, adding: “A person with Down Syndrome wants to be employed and to live independently..”
SCHOLARSHIP - Lifeboat recruit on crest of a wave
A teenager was literally on the crest of a wave after getting his Leaving Certificate results yesterday.
Just minutes after getting a phone call from home with the good news, lifeboat trainee Lorcan Hickey, 19, from Kinsale in Co Cork, was on a lifeboat speeding out of the RNLI’s training headquarters in Poole, on the south coast of England, as part of a gruelling and intensive week-long RNLI training course.
He had little time to celebrate, having to turn his attention to ‘man overboard’ training.
His proud parents, Peter and Frances, picked up his results from Christian Brothers College in Cork.
“I had to relive the nightmare of collecting the results,” Peter said.
He opened the envelope while Lorcan was on the phone and said he could hear the relief in his son’s voice.
Lorcan got 535 points — enough for him to secure a full scholarship to University College Cork in recognition of his voluntary work with Kinsale RNLI. He plans to start a four-year course in biological and chemical science in UCC later this month.
Lorcan, who would ultimately like to work as a winchman with the coast guard, said he was absolutely delighted.
“Obviously I would have liked to be with my family today but there was no way I was passing up the opportunity to come over to the RNLI College for lifeboat training,” he said.
“In many ways it has been the perfect place to receive the news and to celebrate tonight with lifeboat crew from all over Ireland and the UK.
“I am also really proud that the work I do with the charity has enabled me to receive an Active Citizenship Scholarship and I am very grateful to those that selected me for it.”
Lorcan, who also works as a lifeguard at Garrylucas beach, joined the Kinsale lifeboat crew in March 2012. He was on a rib at 8.30am on the morning of his 17th birthday — the minimum age to join the RNLI.
After months training with the local volunteers, he was selected for the RNLI’s intensive training programme in Poole, Dorset.
When he returns on Sunday, he will be a fully qualified lifeboat crewman.
CHANGES - Minister: Great faith in Leaving Cert exam
Education minister Jan O’Sullivan has cautioned against any moves to change the Leaving Cert as is happening with the Junior Cert.
She said: “There’s a belief in Ireland and internationally that it is a very fair, objective, anonymous exam, that what you get is what you deserve. I would be very, very slow to in any way dilute that.”
Speaking at St Nessan’s Community College in Limerick where she presented Leaving Cert results to 45 students, the minister welcomed the big rise in students taking higher-level maths as a result of the bonus points being awarded.
Asked about her predecessor, Ruairi Quinn’s commitment to review the bonus points after three years, Ms O’Sullivan said: “At the moment I don’t see any reason to stop it [bonus points]. It’s a positive. It is resulting in more students [27%] taking the higher-level papers and being successful. So I don’t see any reason to stop it at the moment.”
On the ESRI report which found that children from working-class areas were less likely to go on to third-level education, the minister said: “One of the things that was interesting was that, where there was a mix of social class in a school, the children from the more working-class element in that school were more likely to go onto third-level.
“So the social mix is very important. But it is also very important in schools where there would not be a big tradition of going onto higher education, they do get the support they need, and that parents in particular are involved in guiding the students. But not every child needs to or wants to go on to higher education. There are lots of other options our there as well. I think it is what is right for the individual student.”
On grants, she said about 50% of students now qualify.
“That is a very high percentage and that is very important and I want to make sure that is still available to students. But I certainly want to do everything I can to make it [higher education] affordable as I would feel very strongly that finance should not a barrier to any student going on to develop their full potential,” she said.
When asked if she would review the loss of guidance counsellors in disadvantaged schools, the minister said: “One of the things the [ESRI] report said was that guidance was not just about any one individual guidance teacher. It’s about the whole school.
“I will be looking at the [ESRI] and considering all the various pieces of advice that are there, but we still are under quite a lot of financial pressure. The country isn’t totally out of the woods yet, but I will be considering all of the report.”
On the proposed changes in the Junior Cert, the minister said: “I am supportive of the proposals for junior cert, but it is going to very gradual.
“I will be meeting all the partners in education, the teachers, parents, management bodies and the students in the autumn, starting in a week or two. I intend to listen to everybody. I do think reform is important, but it is a partnership process,” she said.
Regarding changes in the Leaving Cert, the minister said there were no immediate plans.
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