Ms Evelyn O'Connor:

One of the things that was most positive about the whole process of reviewing senior cycle was how clear-sighted people were about what they wanted senior cycle to be about. It is easy to gloss over it but people were very clear. The teachers, students and parents took issue with this funnel, this narrowing and this singular perspective. When we worked with them, heard their voices and worked with a range of schools they were saying these are people and we want to develop the whole person; we want to help them to be more enriched by and engaged in their learning; we want them to be able to access whatever future they see for themselves; and we want to support them to see many options, not just one track; and that education serves collective and not just individual purposes. That was great to see because people in our education system are clear-sighted about what they would like to see improved. It is a great starting point to have an agreed purpose and vision of where we go from here.