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Irish Examiner Thursday 12.09.2013
JUNIOR CERT RESULTS
Young scientist Ciara among the A team by Niall Murray and Audrey Ellard Walsh Ciara Judge is taking it all in her stride, being one of the top young scientists and now one of Ireland’s top brains, after getting 12 A’s in her Junior Certificate. The transition-year student at Kinsale Community School thought she had not done very well at English in June. So she found it hard to believe she was one of the lucky 13 with 11 higher level and one common level As. “I’m still quite shocked. I’m over the moon,” said Ciara.
She also managed, along with classmates Emer Hickey and Sophie Healy-Thow, to submit a 20-page proposal for the forthcoming EU Young Scientist competition, just days before the exams started. Their project scooped top prize at the BT Young Scientist in January but they had to come right back down to earth weeks later for their mocks. Now the trio, who all got great results yesterday, are planning the trip to the Czech Republic at the end of next week to represent Ireland. Record numbers among the
60,000 who got Junior Certificate results yesterday took higher level maths. And there was delight for 12 other students who, just like Ciara, added up 12 A’s on their results sheets. Among them was 15-year-old Sean Murray from De la Salle Secondary School in Dundalk, who pipped his twin despite Oisin’s 10 A’s and 2 B’s. The pair said their winning formula was down to studying together and quizzing each other — and insisted there was no rivalry between them. There were two more Cork students with a dozen top
grades, including Presentation Brothers College student Fiachra Kelleher, who hopes to do work experience in radio or newspaper during transition year to further his goals of a journalism career. Laura Lynch was the toast of Coláiste Muire in Cobh with her 12 A’s, which included music, which she studied after school. “The teachers told me to stay back afterwards when they were giving out the results, so I knew it was either really good or really bad,” said Laura. “But I had no idea it was
going to be as good as this.” Others with 12 A’s — that included top marks in civic, social, and political education which is set at just ‘common’ level — were Limerick student Sarah McNamara, a boarder at Ursuline Convent in Thurles, whose favourite subject is maths and who is concentrating on a future in science. One of two Clare students with top marks was Caoimhe Lyons, a student at Kilrush Community School, who said she was thrilled and shocked. Bethan Godber praised staff at St Joseph’s Secondary School in
Tulla for their role in her success, which she put down to studying hard but also taking plenty of breaks. Also celebrating 12 A’s were: Conall Hayes from Coláiste Ciaráin in Leixlip, Co Kildare; Cathal Darby from St Mary’s College in Rathmines, Dublin 6; Ciaran O’Hanlon, Convent of Mercy, Ballymahon, Co Longford; and students at Castlerea Community School in Roscommon, Dominican College in Dublin 9, and St Leo’s College in Carlow.
12A’s for Junior Cert student Ciara Judge at Kinsale Community School.
EDITORIAL: 14
Numbers sitting exams in prisons down to 102
Caoimhe Lyons, Kilrush Community school, Co Clare, who received 12 A’s.
by Niall Murray Education Correspondent Among those getting their Junior Certificate results yesterday were more than 100 students who sat their exams in prisons. The number of prisoners taking Junior Certificate papers has fallen from 141 last year and 108 in 2012 to 102 this year. Some may have left prison since finishing the exams: For example, the person who did so at Cork Prison in June is no longer serving there. According to the State Examinations Commission, results were issued in 187 subjects. Although the number might rise slightly as any appeals are finalised, it suggests that most jailed students took an exam in just one subject. Last month, 68 students received results of Leaving Certificate exams that were taken in prison schools, down from 80 in 2012 and 74 two years ago. The prisons and other places of detention where the SEC had Junior Certificate exam centres this year include Cork and Limerick prisons, both prisons in Portlaoise, Wheatfield and Cloverhill in Clondalkin, Arbour Hill, and four education units on the Mountjoy campus. Also holding exams in June were Ballydowd special care school in Dublin, a secure residential unit for teenagers with emotional and behaviour difficulties, and Trinity House School and Oberstown Education centre, both in Lusk, Co Dublin.
Laura Lynch, Coláiste Muire, Cobh, who got 12A’s.
Emma Leahy, Tralee gets 11 A’s at Mercy Mounthawk Sec School Tralee Co Kerry.
Thurles Ursuline student Sarah MacNamara celebrates 12 A’s.
From left: Ciara Crowley, Dominika Grabowska, and Alex Buczynska show their delight with their Junior Certificate results at Ballincollig Community School. Picture: Denis Minihane
Bethan Godber of St Joseph’s secondary school received 12 A’s.
James Hogan and Michael Goggin at Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Cork. Pictures: Donnachadh Sheehan Abbeydorney and Patrick Slattery, Blennervillie, Tralee, at Mercy Mounthawk
Weddings
TERAPROOF:User:conoranthonyDate:11/09/2013Time:22:01:01Edition:12/09/2013ExaminerLiveXX1209Page:
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Ellen O’Regan, Cobh, all smiles after receiving 11 A’s in her Junior Cert at St Aloysius’ College, Carrigtwohill.
Denis Minihane, Denis Scannell, Eamon Ward, Fergal Shanahan, Domnick Walsh, David Keane.
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Fiachra Kelleher, Presentation Brothers College, Cork, with 12A’s
Schools ‘fail’ Down syndrome children
College hopes match ad scores with students by Niall Murray Education Correspondent It may have been the end of the road for Trap but University College Cork hopes Tuesday’s soccer clash in Vienna might spark the beginning of some students’ ambitions to study there. In an unusual advertising strategy, the college took out prominent slots on the pitchside electronic advertising boards during Austria’s game against the Republic of Ireland. On the same day, it dropped out of the top 200 in a top global ranking system, the slogan declared: “UCC Ireland’s Winning University”. It popped up at regular
intervals during coverage of Tuesday’s game, sandwiched by promotions of other Irish household names like Today FM, Tesco Mobile, 123.ie insurance and Aer Lingus. A spokesperson said the occasion represented unparalleled access to its target demographic to consider choosing UCC and Cork. The college did not answer questions about the cost of the advertising or any planned future moves, but said it remains fully mindful and sympathetic towards the financial strain third-level students are experiencing. “At a time when the national expectation is that Irish universities, in a highly constrained fiscal environ-
The advertising hoarding taken out by UCC during Ireland’s match against Austria in Vienna. ment, are being requested to increase their international student numbers, selection of a small number of high-profile advertising opportunities is a necessary reality,” the spokesperson said. During the match which Ireland lost 1-0, UCC staff and graduates were among those offering their views on Twitter. “UCC being advertised in Vienna. Thought they had no money. Sort of galling for students paying
high fees and having grants cut,” wrote Conor Culkin. Aodh Quinlivan, lecturer in UCC’s department of government, tweeted that it was good to see the prominent advertising. Law lecturer Declan Walsh said it was a shameful move, coming alongside student support cuts. “We [UCC] had an ad in All Ire programme on Sun .... and also advertise at Cork City but both [are] obvious target markets.”
Parents need option to shop around for uniforms by Mary Regan Deputy Political Editor Parents should be allowed to shop around for school uniforms instead of getting them from a single retailer. The Competition Authority made the recommendation after complaints from parents who feel they are charged “excessively high prices by exclusive retainers”. Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore agreed it was time to look at the cost of school uniforms. He said the practice of schools telling parents to buy the uniform from one supplier can be “very expensive” and “if there are
more economic options that are available, it is time this is looked at”. However, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said it is not the department’s role to dictate uniform policies to schools, and believes the issue should instead be addressed through a new charter on the parent-school relationship. The Competition Authority said competition is “even more important at times like this when many parents and families are living with reduced incomes and are under increased financial pressure”. However, it said the practice is not in breach of any
competition rules and it is therefore powerless to take any action against schools. The State body with responsibility for competition law said schools should, where possible, allow a number of different retailers to supply the uniform. “If a school decides to opt for an exclusive retailer, that retailer should be chosen following a competitive tender, and not chosen on the basis of established or historical relationships.” it said. “The criteria should cover, among other things, quality, price, level of service, etc. Finally, the arrangement should be reviewed on a regular basis
and the contract not awarded for an excessive period of time.” Responding to newspaper reports, a spokesperson for Mr Quinn said there were no plans to cut grants to schools that do not offer cheaper uniforms. He is urging schools to consult with parents and be responsive to their views. “A school that listens to the voice of parents will not place requirements on parents in relation to school uniforms against their wishes, and for example, will not require that uniforms must be purchased from a specific supplier,” said Mr Quinn’s spokesperson.
by Evelyn Ring The Irish school system is failing children with Down syndrome, an expert on the education and development of children with the disability has told an Oireachtas committee. Prof Sue Buckley said there was educational evidence to show the need for Down syndrome to be listed as a low-incidence disorder. The British academic addressed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education following a request by the Dublin and Donegal branches of Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI). A report from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) says Down syndrome on its own should not be re-classified as making pupils automatically eligible for individual resource teaching. However, parents are concerned that their children, who fall within the mild disability range, will be left languishing for another year with inadequate resources. Prof Buckley said children with Down syndrome, who were already in the primary school system simply, could not wait the outcome of yet another NCSE review. An NCSE working group is expected to report next Easter on a new system for allocation special needs teaching resources to school.