Head of education board hits out at school league tables

The CETB is the patron of a number of primary, secondary, and third-level institutes in Cork.
The chief executive of the organisation, Ted Owens, said league tables, which show the number of pupils from each school who entered third level education, are not a fair representation of the work schools put in.
“I’ve told our school principals that if any of them did send 100% of their students to university, I would have a huge problem because, basically, to achieve that figure effectively means you’re not being an inclusive school.
“It shows you’re not catering for students who want to become an apprentice, who want to go into the workforce, or who are not of the highest academic ability,” he said.
“League tables have been very much to the fore in recent times.
“They damage morale in schools, particularly in schools in socially deprived areas that are working hard to do the best they can for students in difficult circumstances.”