Madam, - In view of the drop-out rates in first year in our third-level educational establishments, it might be more informative if next year's tables on feeder schools analysed those schools which graduates emerged from.
Two points prompt this thought.
1: If students need to be "hot-housed" through one of the grind schools to achieve the entry points they desire, how do they perform in the very different atmosphere of third level?
2: While second-level education is, or ought to be, about more than just getting to third level, surely its relationship to third level should not be just all about access to it, but rather about the ability to benefit from it?
This would make much more interesting reading, for both parents and educators. - Yours, etc,