Nenagh school in international study

In March 2023, St Mary’s Primary School, Nenagh, was selected to participate in the TIMSS 2023. TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) is one of the world's largest studies of student achievement. Internationally, 65 countries and more than 650,000 students participated in TIMSS 2023. It assesses mathematics and science achievement at both primary (Fourth Class) and post-primary (Second Year) levels. Students, parents and staff at St Mary’s were honoured to assist in collecting high-quality data, which will now help to inform future policymaking and educational practice in Ireland.

In December 2024, the initial national results of TIMSS 2023 were published by the research team at the Educational Research Centre. The report describes the main achievement-related findings (relating to students' performance on the mathematics and science tests) along with some information on the Irish curriculum and teachers' coverage of various topics before the tests were administered. In relation to Maths the TIMSS International Average was 503, with Ireland scoring 546. Equally impressive was the Irish score in Science with Ireland scoring 532, which was significantly higher than the TIMSS International Average of 494.

Congratulations to the current pupils from St Mary’s Sixth Class, who participated in the study in 2023. To have contributed to such a prestigious international study and to have their results collated as part of the Irish national average was of great significance to the pupils and a source of pride to all their parents and school community.