Wednesday the 18^th of September was a very big day in the lives of Cashel Community School Junior Cycle class of 2023. It is the first time that the number of candidates taking Junior Cycle tests – or its Junior Cert and Inter Cert predecessors – has exceeded 70,000. This is the second year that all candidates have sat exams under the fully reformed Junior Cycle curriculum. Assessment procedures were adjusted again to take account of disrupted learning during the pandemic.

Also the results were released earlier this year, on the day many students approached the school with both excitement and trepidation. Students had the opportunity to meet their classmates in the school lobby while waiting for their individual envelope. Results were greeted with screams of joy, laughter and in some cases relief as students jumped for joy. Although there were extremely high results by certain students, staff commented on how all students reached their potential and this will certainly give them confidence going forward. It was marvellous to see the delight and sheer happiness of those young people as they received the results of all their efforts.

This year marks the second full year of exams in the reformed Junior Cycle. Nationally a new grading system for some subjects means the number of students receiving top marks in the Junior Cycle Exams plummeted, however a significant number of students in Cashel Community School opened their results on Wednesday to find they had achieved the best possible set of results. One student whom the new system didn’t affect was Sofia Bondarenko. Sofia received the top mark possible in all subjects. The Principal Mr Gallagher paid a special tribute to Sofia who achieved straight A’s and five Distinctions in her subjects, this by any standard is a phenomenal achievement.

Cashel Community School would like to congratulate the students who completed their Junior Certificate programme this year. There were some excellent results across the board. The students were rewarded for all their hard work and efforts during the last three years. The Principal, John Gallagher, paid tribute to the committed teachers, guidance counsellors, SNAs and ancillary staff in the School and acknowledged the support the school receives from the parents in their collective efforts to constantly promote excellence and a good work ethic in Cashel Community School.

It has been reported nationally that the Minister for Education Norma Foley and Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Josepha Madigan have congratulated students receiving their results today.

“Throughout your school life, each of you will have learned so much and will have developed a myriad of talents, skills and ambitions that will pave the way as you embark on the next stage of your education journey,” Foley said.

“I want to congratulate each and every one of you again on reaching this major milestone in your life and best wishes for your next steps.”

Madigan said today was a “big day for families, teachers, Special Needs Assistants and other school staff” as they watched their own students receive their results.

Deputy Principal Mr Murray said that “there were some tremendous results, however we in Cashel Community School believe that success comes in many forms. Whilst acknowledging the outstanding achievements of those pupils who scored very well in the Junior Certificate, we also recognise and applaud the excellent achievements of the many students who fulfilled their potential”. Finally, we look forward to seeing our students build on these results as they progress into the Senior Cycle and beyond.

The State Examinations Commission has said that a significant increase in the number of teachers marking exam papers, and the use of online marking in almost all Junior Cycle subjects had made it possible to deliver this year’s Junior Cycle results five weeks earlier. Schools will go on to combine the exam results that students receive today with outcomes from Classroom-Based Assessments, short courses and other areas of school learning. All of this will go towards creating a Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) award for each student.