Students' delight at Royal School results

Sean McMahon

Results “were very good this year†for the 48 students who took Leaving Certificate exams in the Royal School, according to the acting school principal, Padraic Corley.

“There was both joy and relief for the students when they collected the results. Having spoken to the students about their aspirations, their points were comfortably ahead of what the points were last year in the CAO,†reported Mr Corley. “Overall the students were delighted and, as a school, we were delighted with their achievements and the work that the teachers put in as well.â€
Padraic Corley said the sciences were strong this year including chemistry and biology, as well as design and communication graphics.
Principal Corley said it will now be interesting to see if the points for the various courses will go down or up in the CAO offers. He said one area to watch out for this year is Agricultural Courses. “I think there has been a 20% increase in the number of applicants applying for those courses. We would have had a number of students in the school that would have comfortably got over the 350 points required for Dundalk – to take on the degree there in Dundalk and Ballyhaise.
“There is a worry, because of the large number of students applying for those courses, of how those points are going to change. That is one I will be watching out for on Monday,†said Mr Corley.
He believed the new grading system was conducive to better grades in languages.

“We had very good French results and a large percentage of our students would have sat higher level Irish and would have scored quite well,†he said.
He explained that if you achieved a H6 or better (over 40%) in Higher Maths, you got a bonus of 25 points.

“Right across the board you would have students trying more higher level subjects and that was what the Minister for Education was looking for – to try them – it improved their problem solving skills and resilience. That is a positive in terms of giving points on the Higher Level. If you don't get over the line on the 40%, you are still getting 37 points on the High Level Paper.â€