Mr. Barry Slattery:

I might come in quickly with regard to applied mathematics. I understand the perception that has emerged to the effect that there may be lessons to be learned from the provision of applied maths in this context. There is practice in other jurisdictions of providing additional time for study of more advanced material.

This is usually a means to resolve a tension between different areas that should be studied, to provide differentiation or to support students studying in areas which relate to future learning needs. It is probably not accurate to categorise applied maths in that way. The syllabus now in place is over 40 years old. The group of students taking the examinations next year will be the last to study this old syllabus. In the absence of an aim or rationale, it is difficult to ascertain the cohort of students it was designed to serve. It is fair to say that, over the last 40 years, it has become a popular subject among 3% of the overall cohort of students. That is a quite a small proportion but it is a steady 3%. It is typically studied by male students who are also studying physics and maths at higher level. In the consultation on the new specification being introduced in September, which was held a couple of years ago, these issues were discussed. At the time, there was strong consensus that the applied maths specification, which has been developed and which is to be introduced in September, would not relate to an advanced maths course but an applied mathematics curriculum which would be offered at higher and ordinary level. What we have now and what we will have in the future is not based on a model of advanced or non-advanced maths. As Mr. Ó Buachalla said at the start, something akin to the concept of a core common curriculum for all students with additional subjects containing advanced material was offered in 2015 at the junior cycle but the feedback on it was quite negative which resulted in a change of tack and the development of te T1-T2 specifications that now exist at junior cycle.