JUNIOR CERT CELEBRATIONS
LAST WEEK 1,867 KERRY STUDENTS COLLECTED THEIR EXAM RESULTS
THE annual sea of emotion was very much in evidence across the county on Thursday last as 1,867 pupils received their Junior Certificate results. A total of 930 girls and 937 boys sat the exam across 26 second-level schools, and the months of preparation culminated in the usual welter of excitement and optimism.
This year’s Junior Cert saw the introduction of the first phase of reforms consisting of six new grade descriptors: Distinction, Higher Merit, Merit, Achieved, Partially Achieved, and Not Graded. These grades were piloted on the English exam as part of a reformed programme to be phased in by 2021.
The ‘ Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement’ will record exam grades and assessments, including achievements in extra-curricular activities such as sport, debating, and community orientated projects.
Sean Coffey is Principal of St Brendan’s College in Killarney and he expressed his delight at how students responded to the exam. “There are only two occasions in a student’s life where the state will assess them in terms of exams. The Junior Cert is a great preparatory exam and it provides an incentive for students ahead of the Leaving Cert. We’re very happy with the results at the school,” said Sean.
Anne O’Callaghan, Principal of The Green, Tralee, said “We are very happy with the results, as are the boys themselves. The new grading in the English paper was more of a statement of achievement than a traditional style grade this year. At first the students were a little confused, but once it was explained to them they were happy. Overall, we’re very pleased with the results,” Anne said.
Joe O’Dwyer, Principal of Intermediate School Killorglin, added. “We’re very pleased with the results. We had a 100 percent uptake in higher level English and Irish. The new grading system went well and some of the grades now overlap, but it’s just a matter of embedding these changes overtime. Congratulations to all the students,” said Joe.
Stella Loughnane is Acting Principal in Killarney Community College and she said the new English Junior Cycle curriculum resulted in a majority of its students achieving Distinctions and Higher Merits. “This is a landmark day for students in Killarney Community College as English is the first subject awarded new grade descriptors in the Junior Certificate. The Key skills and core competencies that these students have developed will stand to them as they enter Senior Cycle,” said Stella.
Career Guidance Councillor, Billy Ryle said the overall standard of results in Kerry is every bit as good as in previous years, which is due in large part to the quality of schools in Kerry and a great teaching core.
“The new grading system went very well and everyone seems to be pleased with it. The move towards the new assessment will consider the various skills students have; a skills set which is not always reflected in an exam,” Billy said.
He also stressed that pupils now need to give their subject choices for the Leaving Cert plenty of consideration.
“Sometimes students don’t think of the entry requirements for college and they can easily disqualify themselves. This is very important as students are sometimes euphoric after their Junior results. They need to get plenty of advice from the schools and there is a lot of help available. They need to avail of it,” he added.