A number of institutions will introduce bonus points for Higher level Maths for a four year trial period commencing with the 2011/2012 Leaving Certificate year. The pilot scheme has been specifically designed with the objective of maximising the number of LC students who study for and sit the HL Mathematics exam, and in particular of reducing the numbers of students who might drop down from HL to Ordinary during the LC senior cycle.

It is particularly attractive to those students who are capable of strong results at Ordinary level, but who are concerned about the extra demands of the Higher level course. To that end, Yeats College will introduce a new feature of the maths curriculum which will enable students to study for the HL Mathematics at whatever ability level they find themselves. A system will be introduced which will allow students, in conjunction with the Yeats College Maths staff, to identify their Maths ability and place them in a class with other students of similar competence. In this way, Yeats College will be able to assure each student who wishes to take the Higher level, whether they are an ‘A’ student or a ‘D’ student, that they will be placed in a class which will allow them to achieve at the highest level of their ability. This is also certainly appealing to those students whose greatest result is a ‘C’ or ‘D’ but who struggle in a class of high achievers who may want to move at a faster pace.

Overall, for every student who takes HL Maths this will increase their chances of maximising the points required for their desired course. Yeats College is confident that this strategy will go a long way in supporting Government policy which identifies a necessary investment in the uptake of HL Maths at second level. Furthermore, a report which suggested that a lack of qualified Maths teachers may be a key influence in a student’s poor performance in that subject was certainly not reflected in the Maths results achieved by Yeats College students in the 2010 Leaving Certificate. Yeats College Mathematics staff are fully qualified Mathematics teachers and helped students outperform the national average by nearly 3:1 in the number of A1s. Excellent results were achieved in the other higher grades in Maths. We look forward to helping your son or daughter achieve their very best at Yeats College.