Ten Wicklow schools in list of top 400
TEN Co Wicklow secondary schools are included in a league table of 400 ‘ top schools’ in Ireland, ranked by the number of pupils going on to university after their Leaving Cert.
Gaelcholaiste na Mara in Arklow has climbed 48 places on the list, published annually by the Sunday Times, and ranks highest in Wicklow, and 35th overall in the country. With 70.1 per cent of students attending a university, and almost 92 per cent at third level, the school is second overall in Leinster (excluding Dublin).
St Gerard’s School in Bray has jumped two places on the list, to 68th place, with 63.4 per cent at university and 97.5 per cent going on to third level. It is ranked seventh overall in Leinster (excluding Dublin).
Colaiste Raithin, the Irish secondary school located in Bray, has climbed to 141st place on the list, up from 213th last year.
East Glendalough in Wicklow town is 171th, down 12 places, while Loreto Secondary School in Bray is up seven places to 191st.
St Mary’s College in Arklow is another major mover, up 63 places on the previous year.
Some principals criticise the publication of the list as schools are measured not by the numbers pursuing a third level education, but the number of pupils attending one of the nine universities on the island of Ireland, the main teacher training colleges, the Royal College of Surgeons, or the (ranked 35) 70.1% (ranked 68) 63.4% (ranked 141) 53.7% (ranked 171) 51% (ranked 191) 49.3% (ranked 282) 41.4% (ranked 325) 38.9% (ranked 335) 38.5% (ranked 360) 36.4% (ranked 382) 35% National College of Art and Design.
No account is taken of students attending college in the UK or further afield, or those at colleges specialising in repeat exams or plc courses.