They’re the highest Leaving Certificate results on record.

This morning approximately 60,000 teenagers across Ireland will receive their Leaving Cert results… and the calculated grades for the class of 2020 are 4.4% higher than last year.

With exam halls closed because of Covid-19, this year’s grades were decided by teachers who used their professional judgement to guess how each student may have performed in the summer exams. This information was combined with national data available in relation to the performance of students in examinations over a period of time.

Best wishes to all students awaiting their Leaving Cert Results tomorrow. As someone who didn’t get to do one, never stress. There are many opportunities ahead in life and different routes to success and happiness for everyone. #LeavingCert2020 @HSELive

— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) September 6, 2020

Today’s results show that teachers overestimated their student’s grades at every level.

According to the Department of Education, the number of H1 grades on Higher Level papers has increased from 5.9% to 8.9%. One in four grades was an H1 or H2, compared to one in five in 2019.

The number of Ordinary Level O1 and O2 grades increased by 3.5%.

‘This has been a challenging time for students’

Announcing the results today, Minister for Education Norma Foley sent her congratulations and best wishes in a letter to the Leaving Certificate Class of 2020:

“This is a very different day from what we had anticipated for you, and from what you had planned and dreamed for yourselves. I do appreciate what an especially difficult time you have had over the past six months, and I want to commend you for the patience, courage and resilience you have shown in that time.

“The creation of the Calculated Grades system came about to ensure there would be a mechanism to enable the class of 2020 to progress to work or further and higher education on completion of your second level school experience.

“This has been a challenging time for students, their families and school communities. However, I do believe what has been created is the fairest possible solution given the extraordinary circumstances in which we find ourselves as we journey together through the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Today, with confidence, you can look back with pride on all that you have achieved and look forward with courage to the next exciting phase of your lives,” added Minister Foley.

Need some support?

The Leaving Certificate student helpline, at 1800 265 165, which is provided by the National Parents Council post-primary will be available from 11am September 7th for students to reach a guidance counsellor with any queries that they may have.  This helpline will operate until September 16th after the CAO first round offers and is staffed by qualified guidance counsellors.