Leaving Cert results give ‘closure’ on exam issue

A local Leaving Cert student has welcomed the arrival of his Leaving Cert results this week as a moment of “closure” on the whole subject of State exams, which has raged in the classrooms and corridors of power over the past number of months.

More than 60,000 students nationally received results last Monday, September 7, on what was a very different day to what many had envisioned.

For Conor Smith, who led a very public campaign calling for the Government to side with a Calculated Grades process, it was the “correct outcome”.

Not only did the Breifne College student make his feelings on the subject clear on social media platforms, but his position was highlighted nationally when he appeared on radio with Pat Kenny to discuss how the upheaval was impacting the psyche of student population.

Early on Conor took the view that it would have been “unfair” for any student, given the unique set of circumstances brought about by Covid, to have to sit an exam, which many consider as being a defining point in their education.

“[The Leaving Cert] got postponed first, then completely cancelled. But they were completely refusing to even consider calculated grades up to a point and it made no sense. Then came the u-turn, so causing months of needless worrying, all for nothing.

“The idea in 2020 that to boil your entire education down to a month of exams is antiquated as is it, and that's not even taking account of the pressure of everything else going on around. I don't think in those circumstances I'd have given my best academic performance.”

Conor is coy about how many points he did receive, but did divulge that his “first choice” of Multimedia at DCU is over 400, and he felt himself “comfortable” that there's sufficient wriggle room to be accepted even if the CAO requirement rises this year.

“I'm very happy. I'm on the pig's back - delighted,” says Conor of his results. “I was expecting to get 400. I got what I needed, and I've plenty to spare.”

The estimation, Conor believes, was “fair” if not a little over generous. Still, he like many others, is not complaining, but still thinks that, if Covid had not impacted, he would have done “just as well” had he sat his exams in normal circumstances.

Conor, who did his work experience during Transition Year at The Anglo-Celt, plans to defer his first year to study media at Dún Laoghaire Further Education Institute. It's a pre-University course, that gives a course students the a range of practical skills and knowledge across online, video, podcasting, TV, radio and print.

The right decision

It's the “right decision” Conor feels, especially considering the year that's in it.

He hopes attending a FEI will afford him the opportunity to feel his way into the third level learning environment before starting mainstream university only then to find the process hindered by further Covid restrictions should they arise.

“Now I have my points, I can defer my CAO offer for a year. I think it's an option a lot of people are going to be looking at.”

Conor was one of many looking on with trepidation as news of exam results unfolded across the Irish Sea - first in Scotland, then Wales, and finally England. The fallout has seen resignations and sackings at the highest levels after the algorithm used to determine grades, which used school data, was subsequently accused of widening inequality.

“It was almost like watching a car crash happen in slow motion, and knowing what the Department here was facing with our results, hoping they'd get out of the way in time. Thankfully, for the best part, I think that happened.”

Asked if the 2020 Leaving Cert class will always be thought of as the ones that got a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card, Conor says that “might be the case” for some.

Though he adds that there are still options for those unhappy with the calculated grades, who can instead sit their exams in November.

“Yes there are some that this situation will have benefited, I don't doubt that. There is grade inflation, but overall I still feel that this was the fairest way the Department could have approached this.”