Bumper points for the leaving certs of 2024

THERE were tears of joy all over the country on Friday when the class of 2024 received their leaving cert results.

This year’s cohort were the class that didn’t get to sit their junior cert exams because of Covid-19 restrictions, so they faced into their leaving cert as being the first state exam they’ve sat under conventional conditions.

“We were very cognisant of that so we tried to mimic those long exams in small, bite-sized pieces so they would know what it was going to be like. We wanted to take the mystery and fear out of what it was like to sit exams like that. And it worked! It yielded the dividends and we’re over the moon with the results,” said Fiona Lennon, principal of St Mary’s Academy CBS, Carlow.

Several boys in CBS achieved over 500 and 600 points, with one scholar, Sagar Sapkota, getting an eye-watering score of 625. “Sagar is a superstar and is such a lovely person. He has it all, the whole package,” said Fiona.

Niamh Broderick, principal of St Leo’s College, the county’s largest secondary school, was also very aware that the class of 2024 missed out on some formative rites of passage during their teenage years.

“This group had a tough time – they didn’t do exams, they didn’t get to enjoy the full freedom of experience that transition year brings. When you think about what they’ve been through, they’ve done really well and have come up trumps. I’m very proud of all the girls, no matter what points they got. They come back to the school on leaving cert results day to say thank you and for hugs. It’s just lovely,” said Niamh.

Emma Carbery from Carlow town scored the magical number of 625 points, having decided in fifth year to focus on maths, aiming to get a H1 in the subject, which she achieved. She’s now looking forward to doing actuary studies in Dublin City University. Her love of maths must run in her DNA because her father Paul is a maths teacher in Presentation de la Salle, Bagenalstown, while her mother Siobhán must be equally proud of her.

“I’m so happy with it all. I had a feeling I’d do well, but I didn’t know how well. I’d been dreaming of getting this all though sixth year so it’s just amazing that it happened. I’d really like to thank all of my teachers for their help and support, they were fabulous,” said Emma.

John Keane, principal of Presentation de la Salle, told The Nationalist that the class of 2024 were a great bunch of students who worked hard and deserved every single point they achieved in the leaving cert.

“We’re very happy and proud of our students, they did exceptional work. We have a good mix of students heading off to third level, but there’s an increase in students going on to do apprenticeships, too,” explained John.

Newly-appointed principal of St Mary’s Knockbeg College, John Maye, warmly congratulated his students.

‘St Mary’s Knockbeg College wants to congratulate all 82 students who received their leaving certificate results, including three students from our ASD class,’ he said in a statement. ‘The results were of the highest calibre, with a number of students receiving over the 600 points mark. Their results are testament to the hard work and dedication of their teachers, special needs assistants, parents and guardians. We would like to extend to them our best wishes in their future endeavours.’ One student, Christian Germaine from Graiguecullen, made a little bit of history in Tyndall College on Friday when he scored a massive 613 points in his exams.

“I expected to do well, but not that well! I’m so grateful to everyone who supported me, from my parents Moira and Chris and sister Niamh to all the teachers in Tyndall College. I’m very lucky to have people like them around me. The teachers’ abilities to support people with different abilities or with different needs are fantastic. They really understand their students. They don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach to education. I’m very grateful to them,” said Christian.

Principal Gerry McGill pointed out that students and parents in the Carlow town catchment area are “very lucky to have such a wide variety of secondary schools to choose from”.

“We have six schools in this area and they’re all great schools. I’m sure all the school principals are very proud of their students today,” said Gerry.