College sets the record straight on performance of its pupils
In fact, according to records sent to us by the Central Applications Office, some 116 of our Leaving Cert students were offered places in university degree courses, with a total of 87 students taking up those offers this year. If you had remembered to include in your survey degree courses in non-university colleges, you would have found that more than 50% of our students were offered places in degree level courses.
It must be clear that, even on the basis of your sole and somewhat arbitrary criterion of academic success, your description of St Flannan’s as an under-achieving school was mischievous and totally unfounded. We have an open admissions policy and accept students without reference to their academic ability, so you will understand that, by any objective criterion, the performance of our students would be considered to be excellent. I would like to state, however, that I am equally proud of the performance of those of our students who are furthering their careers by taking certificate or diploma courses and those who have entered employment or trade apprenticeships.
I cannot accept the implication in your report that these students are unsuccessful or that their schools have failed them.
While we place great emphasis in this school on academic achievement, we do not judge the success of our school solely on the numbers admitted to degree level courses. Teachers are aware of their vocation and duty to deliver an appropriate and effective education to all the students who are admitted to their school.
It is with considerable reluctance that I have revealed the figures above because I am conscious of the great number of schools with less impressive academic records which are in no way inferior to ours in their commitment to encouraging and developing the abilities of their students. It is only because your article was unfair to our students and staff and damaging to the reputation of our school that I feel obliged to refer to the real figures.
Colm McDonagh,
Principal,
St Flannan’s College,
Ennis,
Co. Clare>
