Student Challenges Leaving Cert Calculation Process In The High Court

The High Court is due to begin hearing a legal challenge this morning over the process used to calculate Leaving Cert grades this year.

The legal action is being seen as a test case, with more than thirty similar cases waiting in the wings.
Freddie Sherry missed out on his first CAO choice, after the 542 points estimated by his teachers at Dublin's Belvedere College, was reduced to 487 under the grade standardisation.
He claims the decision to exclude historical school data from the calculated grades process was unlawful and he has taken a case against the Minister for Education and the State, however they've rejected his claims.
One of the main issues for the court to decide is whether the decision to exclude such data from the process was 'unlawful, unreasonable or irrational' and whether it breached Mr Sherry’s legitimate expectation that it would be included.
The outcome of the case could have significant ramifications for about 30 other cases, which raise similar issues in relation to the process.