Professor Tom Collins:

The main question I am left with at the end of this session is that I wonder about the extent to which the importance of the leaving certificate examination is derived from its role in allocating places at third level. If that role were removed, how would a leaving certificate exam stand in the public imagination and the significance it holds for the curricular experience in second level? Competitiveness is best served by maximising a successful outcome and successful encounter with school in the general population. We know that most children are happy in school at second level but about 25% are not. That 25% is predominantly working class. Male working class students in particular present a particular challenge. Subgroups such as Travellers, which Senator O'Reilly mentioned, are massively disadvantaged within the sector.

It is useful to think less of disadvantaged areas - around DEIS - than to think of disadvantaged people.

However, it is always difficult to target disadvantaged people.

My final point is that reform in education drips slowly. It is very difficult. We were asked earlier who the winners are who are managing to block it. There are many winning in different ways under the current system, and the combination of those winners will probably make reform difficult, slow and painful.