2013 CAO offers
The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union would like to wish all students the very best of luck with their CAO applications today, however the ISSU urges all students to take time to asses your options.Most students are very apprehensive this morning as they consider their options carefully. Many have close to the same points, or slightly less than what their course was last year, they are extremely concerned that the points could rise and they will miss out.The Union has welcomed the overall increase in the numbers taking higher level Maths his year, however yet again we are cautious the success of ‘Project Maths’. The ISSU will publish a national student opinion survey on Project Maths in the coming weeks.Students are urged to take time to asses their options and consider their futures carefully. The NPCpp helpline is available on 1800 265 165 and further information is available from the ISSU website or by contacting the ISSU Team directly. We would like to remind students that if you do not get your first choice it is not the end of the world. There are many different routes into your course and you should seek advice if you are in this situation. It is recommended that you view all exam scripts should you have a concern about particular grades, and exhaust all efforts in getting where you want to be.
Well done on your results!
Congratualtions to the Class of 2013!
The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all examination candidates upon receiving their Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied results today. Speaking today, the ISSU Education Officer, Robert C. O’Donnell said;“Today will be the one of the most exciting times in your life, bringing to a close the results of 5 or 6 years of work from 1st year all the way to 6th year, and the beginning of the next chapter of your life. Today relax, and enjoy the opportunity to celebrate your work and your achievements. I and the ISSU would like to congratulate you on your success and hope you are happy with your choices and wish you all the best for the future. Don’t forget that there are plenty of facilities available to students including school guidance counsellors, family & friends , exam helplines and online resources to help students during this time.” ISSU President, Mark Caffrey added;“On behalf of the ISSU I would like to congratulate all Leaving Cert and Leaving Cert Applied students who have put in a lot of hard work over the pas number of years which culminates in today’s results. We are aware that many students still have concerns about the Project Maths syllabus, which is only in its second year of leaving cert examinations. In order to get student feedback on this issue, we are running a survey on www.issu.ie, the results of which we will feedback to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, and the Department of Education and Skills.” The ISSU urges students to use the National Parents’ Council post-primary (NPCpp) exam helpline (1800265165) to seek independent advice from qualified guidance counsellors if you are unsure of your options over the upcoming days. Online advice and support is available from ISSU on issu.ie.
Minister Ruairi Quinn to Address Irish Second-Level Students' Union AGM
Minister Ruairi Quinn to Address Irish Second-Level Students' Union AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union is taking place this Wednesday March 27th; from 11am until 4pm, in the Clocktower Building, Dept. Of Education and Skills, Marlborough Street, Dublin1. Second-level students from across the country will meet together to discuss issue which affect them, with a particular focus this year on bullying in schools. Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn will deliver the keynote address at 3pm, and former governor of Mountjoy will address delegates about tackling bullying in schools at 2:40pm.ISSU President and Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh student, Dylan Grace said; ‘When students are consulted on matters affecting them, the conversation changes. We have seen over the past year, that nodding to student voice is ineffective and is a barrier to real change, and engaging with the student voice leads to a better education system for everyone. The ISSU has now proven than we can and should be trusted as a partner in education and achieving this is a key goal for our organisation. I am delighted that Minister Ruairi Quinn will address today’s AGM, and hope that he recognises the importance of engaging with students in a meaningful way in all aspects of second-level education reform.’
Irish Second-Level Students' Union Welcomes Pilot Admissions Programme in Trinity College
The Irish Second-Level Students’ Union (ISSU) welcomes today’s announcement that Trinity College Dublin will be piloting a new admissions scheme where 25 places across Law (10), History (10) and Ancient & Medieval History and Culture (5) will be reserved for students via a different entry route than the existing points scheme. Applicants seeking to enter into a course of study through the new route will be ranked according to a combination of their Leaving Certificate results, their Relative Performance Rank, and personal and contextual data provided via supplementary materials submitted by the applicant. Students can still apply for the remainder of places in these courses through the traditional points system, and opt whether or not to apply through the new entry route. The first students in this study will begin in Trinity in 2014, and the pilot will run for at least two years. ISSU President, Dylan Grace said; ‘The Irish Second Level Students’ Union fully supports the new feasibility study on college admissions about to be carried out by Trinity College. To me, it is quite clear that this has the potential to deliver more fairness than the current CAO system. In a society where students can contribute in many ways and display great talent in various ways, it is unjust that a student’s test scores from one exam should ultimately be the decider of their future. Although Leaving Cert points are still a significant factor, but so is how they perform compared to other applicants in their school – something which will hopefully give something of an advantage back to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and recognise when they perform well compared to their peers.’ Brendan Power, ISSU Education Officer echoed this, ‘The traditional points system is not reflective of the student as a whole person, and we welcome the possibility that college entry will be based on a number of different aspects, instead of just one set of exam results.’ For further information on: www.tcd.ie/undergraduate-studies
School League Tables 2012
Following communications from a number of schools and individual students that there appear to have been a large number of inaccuracies in the "School League Tables" (which were widely published in the National Media this week), we are encouraging students and parents who read these tables to take them with a large pinch of salt. Even when accurate, school league tables only focus on one specific aspect of the student experience, and do not in any way fully reflect the development and many other achievements made throughout the school experience thanks to the hard word of students, parents and teachers alike, and we discourage anyone from using them as a significant measure of school performance.
New Junior Cycle Puts Students at its Heart
ISSU welcomes details of Junior Cycle reform
The Irish Second-level Students’ Union (ISSU) warmly welcomes the details of Junior Cycle Reform which Minister Ruairi Quinn has announced today. The changes which have been announced today will put the student at the centre of their own education, and go a long way to ensuring that learning outcomes rather than exam performance are the main focus of junior cycle education in Ireland for years to come. The presence of English, Irish, Maths and Science as standardised tests will ensure that at it's core, the new Junior Cycle will preserve academic integrity, and it provides a clear statement on the importance of science in addition to the traditional core subjects of English, Irish and Maths. ISSU Education Officer, Brendan Power said: “The new Junior Cycle has the capacity to revolutionise the educational experience of future second-level students in Ireland. I firmly believe that the new Junior Cycle will result in a more practical and functional education for students and prepare them for life and future education, rather than train them for exams”.