Foley defends Leaving Cert grade inflation

Minister for Education Norma Foley has defended Leaving Cert grade inflation after this year’s results have been artificially boosted by an average of almost 8%.

The adjustment was made following a promise made by Minister Foley that results received by the 2023 cohort would be no lower than last year’s.

Almost 62,000 students are receiving their Leaving Certificate results today nationwide.

Last year’s marks were artificially boosted by an average of 5.6%. This year the average hike is 7.9% and 71% of all grades awarded have risen as a result, compared to 50% last year.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Minister Foley said this year’s Leaving Cert students have faced “significant challenges over the past couple of years” as most had not taken a State exam before, with the majority of those sitting the Leaving Cert this year would have had their Junior Cert exams postponed in the summer of 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In the interest of fairness to them, I did make the determination that the overall grade profile this year would be similar to that which was achieved last year,” she said.

“It was in the interest of recognising their unique circumstances of a group of students who didn’t sit junior cycle and did have to grapple with the significant amount of remote teaching and learning.”

The State Examinations Commission stated that a stronger adjustment was “needed” as this year’s base aggregate results were “significantly” lower than those of 2022.

Asked when grade inflation will end, Minister Foley said “every group of students is unique and we have to look at their unique circumstances at a given time.”

“This particular group was different to the previous group, particularly this group where the students who didn’t have the opportunities at the junior cycle.”

“That was an enormously important consideration for me. And next year, students will be different. They have a unique set of circumstances as well.”

“So, we will look at each group of students and give them the due consideration that they require,” she said.