Job well done by Junior Cert pupils
HUGE NUMBERS TAKE HIGHER LEVEL MATHEMATICS PAPER
PRINCIPALS across the county have reacted positively to the Junior Cert results received by their students last Wednesday, and have noted a jump in the number of pupils taking on the higher level maths papers. John O’Rourke, principal at Mercy Mounthawk, is ‘very happy’ with his school’s results, adding that “our students performed admirably, and they got their just rewards for their hard work”. “We had a student who picked up 11 A’s, but the standard was terrific across the board, and I think they’ve a solid foundation now for their Leaving Cert.” CBS The Green’s principal Anne O’Callaghan expressed similar sentiments to The Kerryman. “The school, parents, and students themselves are rightly very proud of what’s been achieved, and it’s very nice to see all parties are happy”, she added. Joe O’Dwyer, principal at Intermediate School Killorglin, told The Kerryman that the school performed strongly across the board, and that students were thrilled with their “fantastic results.”
Presentation Secondary School’s principal Eileen Kennelly stated the school was “buzzing” last Wednesday morning as pupils “were rewarded with wonderful results.”
Ms Kennelly also heaped praise on Ciara Fitzell, who picked up 11 A’s:
“She is one of just 125 students in the county to obtain such amazing results; the school and her family are very proud of her.”
Principals also took notice of a significant rise in the number of students sitting honours maths this year.
Mr O’Rourke says a very high number of students took the higher level paper at Mounthawk, and Ms Kennelly noticed the same at Presentation, where she says there’s a very strong maths tradition.
Ms O’Callaghan says the uptake was also very high at The Green but added that the popularity of higher level papers in general has been stronger in recent years, perhaps due to the imminent changes to the Leaving Certificate points system:
“Honours papers are more attractive now. In years to come, points will be awarded more fairly for the Leaving Cert, and students feel it’s worth taking on honours papers.
They’re also taking honours papers now for Junior Cert to test themselves”, she continued.