Junior Cert students celebrate great results

By Adam Daly

JUNIOR Certificate results released on Wednesday were a cause for celebration for many of the students of South Dublin.

In Adamstown Community College Lucan, there was an increase in the number of students sitting higher level subjects and those who did, achieved very ‘solid’ results, with three students getting six As.

Principal, Des Newton was very happy with the results in Adamstown and said that his students are performing well above national averages in maths year on year.

Nationwide, there was a decrease in the results for Maths and English sat at ordinary level.

In 2015, 4.6 per cent of students failed ordinary maths, this year that figure rose to six per cent.

However higher level maths continued to see a rise in results, with over three quarters of students getting an honour grade.

For a third year in a row results in ordinary level English has declined with only 76 per cent of students receiving an A, B or C grade in the subject.

In Deansrath Community College Clondalkin three students received 10 honours, with many students following closely behind getting nine, eight and seven.

Principal Maria Shannon said that overall C.S.P.E was a subject her students had performed particularly well in, a subject that 21 percent of students received an A in across the country.

Geography proved the most difficult to achieve an A grade in with only 8.6 per cent doing so at higher level.

In Irish there were improvements in grades at both higher and ordinary level for the students around the country.

Deiric Mac an Bhaird, Principal of Colaiste de hÍde Tallaght was over the moon with his students results and hoped that all students celebrated their achievements in a sensible way.

“’Our students and teachers are delighted with the results this year in Colaiste de hÍde, year on year we have seen a marked increase in students doing and achieving a C or higher in higher level papers.” Mac an Bhaird said.

While this year wont be the last for celebrating the results, it will see the end of the traditional Junior Cert examination process.

The Junior Cert will be replaced with the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) in 2017, a school-work component to the assessment which will be based on work completed by the student during second and third year, with English scheduled to be the first syllabus to be assessed under the new system.

Mary Daly, Principal of St Dominic’s College Ballyfermot said she was delighted that her students had achieved such great success this year.

With 50 per cent of her students getting As and Bs in higher level Religion and one student, Siobhan Lennon, getting As and Bs in all higher level subjects, Mary Daly said she was ”really impressed overall.”

But for those who were unhappy with their results, The State Examinations Commission said students who wish to appeal any of their grades have until 5pm on Friday, September 30, but their is a cost of €32 per subject.