LAST UPDATE | 7 Sep 2020
IT’S LEAVING CERT results day for some 60,000 students around the country.
We brought you all the reaction as pupils received their grades from 9am this morning.
It’s a very different process this year, obviously.
Here are a few nuggets to help explain how it’s all supposed to work:
Good morning and welcome to Leaving Cert result day 2020. Cónal Thomas here keeping you up to date with the latest throughout the morning.
Minister for Education Norma Foley speaking on Morning Ireland in the last few minutes said she has “every confidence” that students will be happy when CAO points are released on Friday.
Foley says the predicted grades system used this year was “blind to gender” and insists the location of a school wasn’t used in profiling either.
It’s normally a day of well wishes from politicians….and today looks no different despite this being a results day like no other.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris says the class of 2020 has “shown resilience that would put many of us to shame”.
#Classof2020, no words can do justice to your year. A global pandemic & no traditional exam. Virtual graduation, cancelled debs, final months of school spent at home. Whatever your grades, you have shown resilience that would put many of us to shame! The best is ahead. Go for it!
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) September 6, 2020
Back to the Education Minister now.
Norma Foley has said that the algorithm for this year’s calculated grades will be published after 9am today.
The Minister also says there will be an opportunity for Leaving Cert students to have their calculated grades looked at a second time.
Speaking this morning Foley said: “Teachers will adjudicate the best mark on the best day with the best questions for their students.”
The Minister said that this means teachers are good at assessing the ranking order of a student within a class, but this did not allow for a baseline comparison between students across the country.
More well wishes from politicians, anyone?
This time it’s Justice Minister Helen McEntee. She tells the class of 2020 that “no matter what happens today be proud of yourselves.”
To the Leaving Cert class of 2020.
— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) September 7, 2020
This year has been a year like no other but you have shown yourselves to be strong, resilient, caring & compassionate young people. No matter what happens today be proud of yourselves. Good luck to each & everyone of you this morning.X #LC2020
We’re just one minute away from students receiving their calculated grades. But first, Jedward.
Class of 2020 You’re all legends and accepted on PlanetJedward #LeavingCert2020 🙌🏼
— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) September 6, 2020
As students begin receiving their results, the Children’s Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon has a message for the class of 2020.
“I hope you get what you wish for, however if not, remember there are still plenty of opportunities out there,” he says.
A message from #YourOCO Dr. Niall Muldoon for everyone receiving their #LeavingCert2020 results today. pic.twitter.com/pbQ8zqjZzl
— OmbudsmanForChildren (@OCO_ireland) September 7, 2020
Ok, so it looks like the portal where students login to receive their calculated grades briefly crashed but is back up and running now!
And the web site has crashed! What a surprise! @Education_Ire #LeavingCert2020
— Tara (@_Tara_Mooney) September 7, 2020
More on that technical glitch, some students are seeing the funnier side…
omg i got 503 points guys 😊💕😍 #LeavingCert2020 pic.twitter.com/tC1PWdJzBc
— katie (@KvtieDunne) September 7, 2020
If you’re just joining us, students around the country are receiving their Leaving Cert calculated grades and Molly sounds pleased.
IM SO HAPPY I CANT STOP SHAKING #LeavingCert2020
— molly (@frogcuIt) September 7, 2020
Wise words here from Órla on Leaving Cert results day.
The day I got my Leaving Cert results was one of my worst as the full reality of not being able to afford my 'dream' course hit home. 8 years on and I've found a greater love and I'm midway through a PHD in it! There are ALWAYS options and alternative routes! #LeavingCert2020
— Órla ní hAodha (Hayes) (@orlanihaodha) September 7, 2020
Sin é for Sam O’Gara who has just received his calculated grades. He sounds pretty pleased that it’s all done and dusted.
#LeavingCert2020 Happy with my results, some subjects were a bit generous on my grade others I know I could've done better, but still happy. Stress levels have been high for a few days
— Sam O'Gara (@SamOGara4) September 7, 2020
Have we time for another politician’s LC shoutout? Of course we do.
Here’s Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman who praises the “incredible resilience” of young people in Ireland.
Best of luck to everyone receiving their Leaving Cert results today. This year’s class have faced school closures, lockdown, and separation from friends and family. Whatever the results, it's important we recognise the incredible resilience of young people in Ireland.
— Roderic O’Gorman TD (@rodericogorman) September 7, 2020
Back to Education Minister Norma Foley now for a moment.
When asked about whether teachers destroyed supporting documentation to help them arrive at their calculated mark, Foley told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that teachers had to fill in two forms where they highlighted the evidence where they got their grade information.
“That information is all available and retained in the schools and will be available to the appeals process. Certainly the Form A and Form B [that teachers fill in] is retained within the school,” Foley said this morning.
When asked why students didn’t receive their teacher-assessed mark today to ensure transparency, Foley said: “The focus today is on the Calculated Grades being awarded to the students. It’s preemptive to adjudicate what the demand [for CAO points] will be on Friday.
“Students who wish to appeal their Calculated Grade can do so from next Monday 14 September, where they can gain access to their teacher-assessed score before standardisation.
It’s now 40 minutes since students starting receiving their calculated grades for Leaving Cert 2020. Plenty of relief out there no doubt, hopefully not too many disappointed.
the absolute relief right now #LeavingCert2020
— kitty-mae (@kittymaae) September 7, 2020
It’s hard to gauge as of yet the level of disappointment or joy among students arising from the calculated grades system.
We’ll no doubt have a better idea of how things have gone in the next hour or so.
Just to note, yes I got over 500 points and looks like I will get my place in Trinity but I was not expecting 500+, they've clearly bumped everyone up by a grade or two. #LeavingCert2020
— Paul Dineen (@PaulDineen14) September 7, 2020
There are those who wake at the crack of dawn on Leaving Cert results day, nervous in anticipation…and then there’s Jorge’s little brother.
LC results out.
— Jorge Conejo (@bignicnergy) September 7, 2020
My little brother? Sound a sleep. Mam doesn't want to wake him. He's literally so laid back he's lying down
Some more political reaction – or rather advice – as Sinn Féin’s education spokesperson Donnchadh Ó’Laoghaire sends students a message.
Best wishes to the #LeavingCert2020 class with their results today.
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) September 7, 2020
We hope you get what you're hoping for, but always remember there are many routes to reaching what you want to achieve – @Donnchadhol pic.twitter.com/d2MLdQClxt
Some reaction now from students who are disappointed with the calculated grades they’ve received.
got a h4 in english after getting h3/2s in all my tests leading up to the end of the year :)) needed h3 to get into my course so :)) #LeavingCert2020
— kiara⁷ (@luvstrivias) September 7, 2020
That’s it from me folks, I’ll leave you with my colleague Gráinne Ní Aodha who’ll bring us updates on Leaving Cert 2020 throughout the morning. Slán.
We’re around two hours since Leaving Cert results were made available, and there are more students voicing upset and disappointment now.
From the former Sinn Féin TD Johnathan O’Brien:
All I’m seeing in the media & from Dept spokespeople is how the class of 2020 got a ‘grade boost’… tell that to the upset student this morning who is wondering how they went from H2 in their pre to a H4 or from an O2 to an O6 and can’t understand why.
Other students are grateful for the high number of points they got, but are concerned that it won’t be enough to get their preferred college course, as entry requirements are expected to rise to deal with the increase in grades.
Round One of CAO offers begins at 2pm on Friday, which will be telling.
There are supports available for Leaving Cert students – SpunOut has a livechat today running from noon til 9pm.
There are a few upset students out there, but also some delighted young people happy with their Leaving Cert results.
Hang in there whatever boat you’re in – the CAO offers may surprise you, and there are other paths to employment that don’t require a degree.
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