Leaving Cert students saw ‘small decrease’ in grade inflation this year

Leaving Certificate students who received their results on Friday saw a “small decrease” in grade inflation, according to the Minister for Education.

Helen McEntee said that results will return to pre-pandemic levels over the coming years, with as little impact on students as possible.

This year saw a slight drop in Leaving Cert results after grade inflation was introduced during the pandemic.

The number of students awarded top grades has dropped, with the proportion of H1s and O1s achieved falling by 2.6% and 2.1%.

The number of H1s in maths fell to 11%, while the number of students achieving a H1 in Irish fell to 11% compared to 14% last year.

This year, some 5% of students achieved the higher level H1 in English, compared to almost 7% last year.

Ms McEntee, who visited her former school – St Joseph’s Mercy Secondary School, Brews Hill, Navan in Co Meath, on Friday morning, pledged to return to pre-Covid levels.

“Firstly, it’s really important to say to students that every given year there are different factors that impact on the overall results, the overall outcomes,” she said.

“We have more students than ever before sitting the Leaving Cert this year. While there has been a slight change to the overall grade inflation, it’s important to stress that no students will see their grades decrease.

“What we’ll see is perhaps a slight reduction in the level of increase in some, but by and large, it’s really marginal. It’s really a small decrease.

“What I want to ensure is that over the years, as we get back to pre-covid levels, that there’s as little impact on students as possible.

“There’s also more courses that have been put on this year, particularly in areas where we’ve seen added pressure over the last number of years.

“It’s important that students recognise that. But this is a really exciting day. It’s a really nervous day, a nerve wracking day for many I know, but enjoy it.

“I wish them all well. To the parents, to teachers and everybody else, be there to support your children no matter what, because at the end of the day, there’s so many ways and routes and options to get to the end goal, to get to where you want to be.

“I think, with parents support and that of your family and family and friends, that’s the most important thing for children today.”

Ms McEntee said that for students, today is the “start of a new chapter”.

“There are so many ways in which you can achieve that end goal, but today is an important day to just celebrate with your family, with your friends, while the students at the exams, they’ve had the support of their family friends, and, of course, their teachers and the school as well,” she added.