News and Politcs

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has said 400-450 new offers will be required for students at third-level institutions following issues with the calculated grades system.

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has said 400-450 new offers will be required for students at third-level institutions following issues with the calculated grades system for Leaving Certificate students this year.
In a tweet, Mr Harris said he had just concluded a meeting with the Central Applications Office (CAO).
He said that “between 400-450 new offers will be required”.
The minister said the CAO will provide a “solution based” further update and timeline later today and he is meeting the Higher Education Authority today.
Just concluded a meeting with the CAO. Very grateful to them for the work they are undertaking. Between 400-450 new offers will be required. CAO will provide a further update and timeline later today. Solution focused! Meeting Higher Education Authority at lunchtime
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) October 5, 2020
Universities caution over places for impacted studentsReview finds third error in calculated grades systemThe week the calculated grades process unravelled
Last week it emerged that a total of 6,100 students were to get improved marks following a review of the Leaving Certificate calculated grades system.
The review found a third error in the coding used to standardise results, in addition to the two mistakes discovered earlier.
All Leaving Cert 2020 students have been informed whether or not they have been affected. Those who are entitled to an improved grade can see that improved grade on the student portal.

  • 5,408 students will receive a higher grade, by one grade band, in one subject.
  • 621 students will receive a higher grade, by one band, in two subjects.
  • 71 students will receive a higher grade, by one band, in three or more subjects.

Minister for Education Norma Foley confirmed that while 6,100 students received grades that were lower than they were entitled to, around the same number of students have been awarded grades that were higher than they should have been.