IOP responds to 2024 Irish Leaving Certificate results

After the release of the Irish Leaving Certificate results, the Institute of Physics (IOP) Ireland and Northern Ireland co-head, Lee Reynolds, said: “Congratulations to all the students receiving their hard-earned results. Whether they choose a graduate or technical role they will find their physics skills in high demand across a wide variety of sectors such as engineering, energy, telecommunications, advanced manufacturing, pharma and finance.

“Physics-powered industries can provide the high-value jobs the Irish economy needs. From 2010-2019 they created 40,000 new well-paid jobs and could do the same again but that requires an expanding pipeline of skills. The opposite is happening.

“In just three years the number of Leaving Certificate students at physics higher level has dropped from 7,210 students in 2021 to 6,009 in 2024. Proportionally it dropped from 12.4% of all students in 2021 to 10.6% in 2024. A drop of almost a fifth. The number of students at physics ordinary level also dropped for the first time in three years.

“Such persistent trends mean Ireland will not face a skills gap but a skills chasm, both in industry and in science.

“The pupil experience, the sufficiency of numbers of specialist teachers and CPD support, as well as the quality of careers advice need to be urgently examined or Ireland will find itself left behind in a world driven forward by physics research and businesses.

“We would also urge the early release of the gender breakdown of uptake. The last available statistics are from 2022. Progress or failure on inclusion cannot be assessed without this information being made available.”