Leaving Cert students will no longer see their marks downgraded based on the school they attended.

The Government this afternoon dropped controversial plans to take a school’s previous academic record into account when calculating a student’s grade.

It means that the estimated grades provided by teachers will now be the main factor in calculating a student’s Leaving Cert result.

Announcing the decision this afternoon, the Education Minister Norma Foley said the estimated grades for the entire class of 2020 have still gone through a standardisation process.

The decision to drop the “school profiling” element of the process will see nearly 17% of the results handed out around the country reduced by one grade.

Nearly 4% will increase as a result of the decision while just over 79% will remain the same.

Minister Foley said she has had “serious concerns” about school profiling since taking office.

“For some time now, I have had serious concerns about the use of school by school historical data,” she said.

“I am aware it has also been criticised in public commentary about calculated grades.

“As you are aware, in other jurisdictions, it has led to accusations that students attending disadvantage schools in those jurisdictions were at risk of being treated unfairly or subjected to what was called a postcode lottery.”

Meanwhile, the Minister for Further Education Simon Harris said 1,250 extra CAO places would be made available this year.

He said the extra places are “focused on high-demand programmes that traditionally attract students.”