Our results in the Leaving Certificate were once again outstanding. Most noteworthy was the performance of students gaining the highest grades. 10% of the candidates this year reached 550 points or more, up from 7% last year, and 1 in 5 or 20% of our students achieved 500 points or more. It is worth noting that this rate of achievement is double the national average.
Reaching 500+ points opens the doors to the most prestigious universities and courses in Ireland, the United Kingdom and indeed universities all over the world. One of our students, for example, achieved a staggering 790 points in his eight subjects. He has met his conditional offer of 600 points and will go to Oxford to read Economics and Management next month. I also understand his points total places him among the top 50 performing students in the country this year. Others in the year will take up places in universities in Madrid, Paris, Berkeley California and Barcelona. Although our international community and vision will not be reflected in the league tables published later in the year – European and other world universities are not recorded in these tables – I see this broader educational vision as essential in what is a rapidly changing global environment.
Just as impressive in any set of results are the achievements of students reaching more modest points totals. We have a wide range of ability levels in our school and it is heartening and moving when a student granted a reasonable accommodation for his learning need or a candidate who has had to write a set of examination papers in a second language achieves his targets and meets his university offers. Just under 50% of the candidates this year for example achieved 400 points, yet another impressive performance indicator.
I want to warmly congratulate the whole class of 2011 for their hard work, determination and commitment and finally, for their impressive performance in this year’s examinations. I am sure you will join me in wishing them the very best as they begin to take up their places in universities over the next few weeks.
You will have read much about the disappointing national statistics in Mathematics this year. I do not usually single out individual academic departments for comment, but given the debate in this important area I would like to draw your attention to our Mathematics results. Just over 35% of this year’s cohort sat Honours level maths at Sutton Park. Nationally only 16% take maths at this level. Of these students, 35% achieved an A grade and 65% achieved an A or B grade. The national figures are 13% and 47% respectively. At Ordinary level maths, very nearly 90% scored A-C grades [the national figure is 70%]. These are very impressive grades. It is also worth considering that our students take significantly more science subjects [1.2 science subjects taken per student as opposed to 0.82 nationally]. The government has rightly identified achievements in Maths and Science as critical for our national economic revival and I am delighted to see so many of our students performing so well in this core academic area.