The progression of students to third-level study from all 722 state-funded secondary schools in the Republic of Ireland was examined. Data was collected from 30 third-level institutions in the republic and two in Northern Ireland, partly under freedom of information legislation.
This data mainly originated in the Central Applications Office. Third-level institutions do not stand over its accuracy when used to compile league tables. Data was also collected from Northern Irish universities on admissions from Leaving Certificate students. In most instances the data records the school where a candidate sat the Leaving Certificate on their first attempt.
A small number of third-level institutions supplied data for both repeat and first-attempt students, meaning that in some cases the number progressing to university and the third-level is overstated.
In these instances, to reduce distortion we examined the numbers repeating at each school and made other statistical adjustments. We excluded all external candidates. We also excluded institutions that specialise in repeat exams, such as the Institute of Education, Dublin.
Rank
For schools where % at university is the same, % at third-level is used to determine their rank in the Parent Power league table.
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Previous rank
The position, where applicable, in the last Parent Power table, published on August 31, 2014 in The Sunday Times.
% at university
The number of students from the school, divided by three, who registered in the academic years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 with one of the seven universities in the Republic of Ireland, mainstream state-run teacher training colleges, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, National College of Art and Design or a university level institution in Northern Ireland for an undergraduate, degree-level, full-time course. The number of students who sat the Leaving Certificate - adjusted for repeat students - in the school in June 2012 is divded into this to calculate the percentage for 2012-13. The same method is used to calculate the percentages for 2013-14 and 2014-15. Source: Leaving Certificate sits, State Examinations Commision, Athlone.
% at third-level
The average number of students from the school who registered in the academic years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 with (a) one of the seven universities in the Republic of Ireland, main teacher training colleges in the republic, RCSI and NCAD, or a university level institution in Northern Ireland for an undergraduate, degree-level, full-time course; or (b) any other state-funded third-level college, such as an institute of technology or National College of Ireland, for a degree or sub-degree course. Private third-level courses are excluded. The % is produced by the method above.
Pupils
The number of pupils registered in the school in the academic year 2013-14. Source: Department of Education and Skills, Dublin.
Student/staff ratio
The number of pupils registered in the school in the academic year 2013-14, as above, divided by the full-time equivalent teaching staff in 2013-14, calculated from data available from the Department of Education and Skills and from the Education and Training Boards.