A Leaving Certificate student from Castlebar, who was denied calculated grades by the Department of Education because he was home-schooled, has won his challenge in the High Court.

The court said the exclusion of  18-year old Elijah Burke from the calculated grades process was arbitrary, unfair, unreasonable and contrary to law, and it has instructed the Department of Education to reverse it. 

Judge Charles Meenan said that an independent teacher should be appointed to take the place of Mr Burke's mother and award estimated marks.

Elijah Burke from Cloonsunna, Castlebar has been home-taught by his mother, who because of her relationship to him was deemed to have a conflict of interest when it comes to arriving at the teacher estimated marks on which the calculated grades process is based. 

Elijah's mother Martina Burke told Midwest News they were delighted with the High Court judgement - not just for her son but for all students being home-educated across the country.