The numbers repeating exams on rise

The number of students repeating their Leaving Cert is on the rise again.

Having a second crack at the Leaving Cert could be the best option for many students, who for whatever reason, want to do better in the exams.

Repeating is a good option for those who are shy on points, who need to achieve a higher grade in a particular subject or who need another year to decide on the next step.

Mature students are also going back to school in bigger numbers.

There is a big increase in people with degrees repeating the Leaving Cert in order to pursue a totally new career.

Students who repeat can expect to do much better second time round, getting the full benefit of small and focussed classes.

'In some cases, students who have repeated doubled their original points,' said Principal Kevin Lawlor from Marian College, Ballsbridge, Dublin.

The average points jump for students who attended St Laurence College, Loughlinstown was 150-200 points.

Principal John Carr said within hours of the results being released last Wednesday its 'phone was ringing off the hook'.

And repeating is not just for immediate school-leavers.

'People who changed their mind about working, who are a year or two out of college, are coming back to repeat,' said Dermot Morris, deputy principal at O'Connell Secondary School in Dublin 1.

'Many people need more, want more and want to work towards a specific career. For them, repeating is a good chance to improve,' he said.

Gerald Cullen, principal at St Joseph's CBS Fairview, said it was 'expecting a fair increase in intakes for 2011'.

Vocational Education Committee (VEC) schools around the country cater for students who want to repeat one subject or more and can be contacted locally.

OPTIONS

Dublin city and county VECs have a long tradition of excellence in repeat classes.

Other repeat options are also available such as in the fee-paying or 'grind school' sector.

Peter Kearns, the director of the Institute of Education in Dublin's Leeson Street, said that the college had seen a marked increase in mature students repeating.

'It's never too late to change your mind, start down on an entirely new path or make a new decision,' he said.

Other popular fee paying colleges for repeat students include Ormonde Education Centre, Templeogue, Dublin, Yeats College in Galway and Waterford, Hewitt College, Cork and the Limerick Tutorial Centre.

- Fiona Ellis

Irish Independent