Leaving Cert 2008

St. Nathy’s College had 110 students sitting the Leaving Certificate and Leaving Cert. Applied examinations last June. Students were generally delighted with their results, despite having found some of the individual exam papers quite testing in June. The results, however, reflected the tremendous effort put in by students throughout their time with us.

In most years some single subject or paper proves problematical for students. Apart from some concerns last June over the difficulty of the honours Biology paper and the French Aural exam, students found most papers to be generally favourable. The final grades gained by students showed that the papers in all subject areas were marked very fairly and favourably. Any initial anxieties held were quickly dispelled as the results became available.

St. Nathy’s had some particularly excellent individual results this year with students gaining more “A” grades than in previous years. Students who actively sought such high grades were, by and large, successful in achieving the desired results and corresponding high points. As a result, most students should gain their top CAO preferences.

Contrary to nationwide trends, results in Science subjects and Mathematics were particularly good. The school promotes the importance of these subjects and, while it is wonderful to see several A1 grades in higher level papers in these subject areas, it is even more pleasing to see students do very well at lower level.

Subjects which fared particularly well this year (by way of ‘A’ grades obtained) included Technical Drawing, Physics and Chemistry, German, Construction Studies and Music. English did exceptionally well with 10 percent of all students who sat the paper getting either an A1 or an A2 at higher level. Biology fared equally well by way of the percentage of A grades achieved at Higher Level.

The College is especially pleased with the exceptionally low failure rates in all subject areas. In fact, many subjects had a zero percent failure rate. These subjects included History, German, Art, Physics, Engineering, Technical Drawing, Business, Music and Home Economics. The results in Irish and Maths were also very much in contrast with poor nationwide trends which reflected difficulties with these two subjects in particular at national level.

The grades awarded to the Leaving Cert Vocational Programme (LCVP) Link Modules were very encouraging. The additional points obtained from this programme for entry into Third Level Colleges will be a very welcome addition for the majority of Leaving Cert Students, who availed of the programme. Most students who sat the exam gained either a Distinction or a Merit. For points purposes, a Distinction in L.C.V.P. Link Modules is worth the equivalent of a C1 on an honours paper. L.C.V.P. continues to grow in popularity with approximately 80 students following the programme each year.

The College is particularly pleased that candidates taking subjects at Ordinary Level did especially well. We sometimes forget that the real test of a fair educational system is how well it prepares students for life and how well it caters for those who may not wish to go directly on to third level education – preferring, instead, to go directly into the work place or pursue an apprenticeship. Results for students who sat subjects mainly at ordinary level were most satisfactory and, if anything, were up on the high standards of recent years.

Those students who sat the Leaving Certificate Applied Examination fared exceptionally well – their final overall awards were either Merits or Distinctions. The results achieved by the L.C.A. students greatly enhance their prospects for gaining entry to the world of employment via the apprenticeship route. The L.C.A. is an excellent programme for the many students who may not wish to go immediately and directly on to Third Level education.

The College would like to take the opportunity to compliment and thank the teachers and parents who worked so hard to ensure that everything possible was done to facilitate students performing to the best of their abilities and planning wisely for their future lives and careers.

The College would also like to thank all of its Leaving Cert. students for their co-operation over the years and wishes them the very best of luck in their future lives. They have proven to be one of the most academic classes to graduate from St. Nathy’s. We will, undoubtedly, hear a lot more about them and see them achieve many more successes in the future. We wish them well and are very proud of them.

Fr. Martin Convey
President, St. Nathy’s College

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