Leaving Certificate

Interest profilers are a good way to identify where a student’s strengths lie

We need to value applicants’ unique aptitudes and reward them for selecting relevant courses

We aspire to a ‘world class’ education system but where is the vision?

Minister says Norma Foley made correct decision in retaining inflated Leaving Certificate grades this year following criticism from senior academics

There are still options to secure the course of your dreams – even if you didn’t get an offer

Important distinction to be made between adjustments to assessment process and those made after to marking

The possibility of finding affordable accommodation is, in some cases, determining which CAO options students select

Controlling grade inflation is important to protect integrity of results, report finds

Ireland has a high performing but pressurised system of exams which may be fuelling a fear of failure among some students

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Points fell for many health courses and climbed for those linked to strong employment prospects

Some 85% of CAO applicants were successful in getting one of their top three courses

From PLCs to apprenticeships and private colleges, there have never been so many choices for school-leavers seeking a career path

Jacob Haskins didn’t have enough points to secure his first CAO choice so he took an alternative route to UCD

The first step for students considering a resit is it to review your scripts to see where you might have gone wrong

A decrease in higher level maths grades was likely a factor behind a drop in college entry requirements

Grade inflation and late release of Leaving Cert results blamed on decline in students moving south of Border

Significant reduction in number of courses where random selection was used

Decisions made in relation to marking and grading have had a big effect on points requirement

CAO offers: Estimated 80 per cent of college applicants will likely secure one of their top-three course preferences

Here are alternatives to explore when college offers disappoint - because the CAO is no longer the only game in town

Having achieved middling results in a Leaving Cert that puts a premium on rote learning, some students go on to struggle at university

Despite inflated grades, extra places and falling demand may see some health courses fall

Moment of truth arrives for thousands of CAO applicants as first college offers are issued

If welfare of Leaving Cert candidates is important, we must press ahead with senior cycle reform

Undertaking a related QQI or PLC course is an excellent option for students wishing to pursue Stem courses

Q&A: How does a traineeship work and am I eligible to apply?

How I did it: Shannon Kearney did an apprenticeship in engineering and now works as a metrology engineer

Q&A: What areas are apprenticeships available in and would it be a right fit for me?

Attitudes to further education have changed in recent years, and today’s students have more options than ever before

Focus shifting from CAO points race and the pressure it puts on students to alternative routes to third-level education

PLCs are popular among school-leavers and those seeking to return to education, reskill or retrain

New opportunities in a range of industries, supports for students with disadvantaged backgrounds and back to education allowances

Smart Choices: Heidi Higgins decided the best way into fashion would be via an art course at the Abbeyleix FET Centre

Conduct thorough research to familiarise yourself with universities, courses and preferred locations

Apprenticeships, traineeships and PLCs mean Leaving Cert results are not the be-all and end-all

The rules of the CAO are explicit: applicants can move up, but not down, their course preference list

If you didn’t achieve a high enough grade to gain entry to your chosen course, some colleges are offering a fresh chance to do so

Never before have scientific and technological advances changed the nature of work so rapidly

Funeral of siblings Luke and Grace McSweeney will take place on Friday morning in St Peter and Paul’s Church