Leaving Cert Results: Consider all the options after receiving results

Students have been advised to consider all their options as they reflect on their Leaving Certificate results today.

The 57,929 people getting their grades from the State Examinations Commission at over 730 schools and other education centres include 55,045 who followed the established Leaving Certificate programme, with nearly 3,000 taking the Leaving Certificate Applied option.

With most now waiting for college places but others considering other paths into training or work, Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan said there was an increasing variety of high-quality, career-focused routes for students who complete the Leaving Certificate.

“In the mind of some, the Leaving Certificate is synonymous with CAO points and university places, but that narrow view does an injustice to the thousands of students each year who choose a different career path,” she said.

“For anyone who may be disappointed with their results, I would urge them to carefully consider all of the possibilities that are open to them. Every student can still achieve exactly what they want to,” she said.

The students collecting results include more than 6,500 who have got at least one A1 in a higher-level subject, and 868 with four or more. There are 215 with six top grades — equivalent to 600 CAO points or the maximum 625 if higher-level maths is included — while eight have been awarded eight higher-level A1s.

For one student, whose identity or location may emerge today, their results show they have scored nine A1s in higher-level subjects.

Ferdia Kelly, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body that represents over half of the country’s second-level schools, said it is important that all young people getting their results are acknowledged and affirmed for the excellence of their achievements.

“In acknowledging the outstanding achievements of those pupils who scored very well in the Leaving Certificate, we should also recognise the excellent achievements of those who fulfilled their potential no matter what the level of their final points score,” he said.

Ms O’Sullivan paid tribute to parents and families for supporting students, and the teachers and other school staff for the time and energy invested in helping students.

Teachers’ Union of Ireland president Gerry Quinn said special credit was due to mature students who may have returned to education to take the exams, and many students of different nationalities who may only have acquired English recently.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland president Máire G Ní Chiarba said the results give students a valuable and reliable statement about their unique set of talents, skills, abilities, and efforts.

“A key strength of the Irish State exams system is that it is transparent, objective, impartial, and fair. This is fundamental to the high level of trust parents and students have in the Irish education system,” she said.