The 2021 Leaving Cert results are out today and we already have news of an unbelievable result.
Finn Culleton of Mountrath CS is a happy man this morning as he achieved the maximum score of 625 – seven H1s.
Culleton’s talents are not just confined to the classroom either as the Mountmellick native has been performing on the pitch too.
He scored a goal for Mountmellick in the Intermediate Hurling championship last week and followed that by starring for the footballer’s last night.
They played Arles-Kilcruise where Finn started at corner forward and displayed an amazing work-rate – at one stage running the length of the field to get back and make a score-saving interception in a three point win.
We expect to hear more news of Laois success as the day goes on and will bring it to you as we get it.
Today’s results are being released about three weeks later than usual, and some higher education institutions have delayed the planned enrolment of first-year students as a result.
Of the total number of students completing the Leaving Cert this year, Department of Education figures show 57,952 students were registered for the Leaving Certificate, while 3,173 candidates were registered for the final year of the Leaving Certificate Applied programme.
The numbers opting to repeat the Leaving Cert has dropped off in recent years and this was reflected again this year with the 2021 figures including 2,261 external and 744 school-based repeat candidates, compared to the previous year’s 2,509 external and 618 school-based repeat candidates.
As a safety net, the 2021 cohort of students was given a choice of sitting examinations, receiving accredited grades or availing of a combination of both on a subject-by-subject basis.
Candidates who could not sit the examinations due to the pandemic – whether through being a confirmed Covid-19 case, a close contact, or having symptoms of the virus – could avail of accredited grades as a contingency.
It was unsurprising perhaps, that the overwhelming majority of candidates opted for the option of both when they registered their preference through the candidate self-service portal in May.
The vast majority – 52,680 candidates – availed of this option. A total of 5,087 candidates opted to receive accredited grades only while just 185 candidates opted to just sit the examinations only.
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