School says needs of students are being catered for

THE CO Louth secondary school where students were presented with the incorrect Leaving Certificate English paper on Wednesday has said it was informed of the error by a phone call from a parent of an examination candidate.

St Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda said in a statement that English paper 2, higher and ordinary level, was distributed in error to candidates in one of the school’s examination centres by a superintendent who, the college has stressed, is not a member of its staff.

The man in question is a retired teacher living in Dundalk.

A statement by St Oliver’s principal Dan Toole said the error, although noticed quickly, allowed time for some candidates to become aware of “significant key elements of the Leaving Certificate English paper 2”.

“The school principal was alerted of the matter [on Wednesday] afternoon via a phone call from a parent of one of the examination candidates,” it continues.

“The principal immediately brought this matter to the attention of the State Examinations Commission in order to protect the integrity of the examinations.”

When approached by The Irish Times yesterday evening, Mr Toole said he had no further comment.

It is understood the incorrect papers were presented to about 30 students at the college and that the error was noticed by the superintendent within a number of minutes. He then retrieved the incorrect papers and the correct documents were provided to the students.

The statement from St Oliver’s, which has 413 students sitting State examinations this year, continues: “The welfare of our students is, as always, our primary concern. The school authorities have made all necessary arrangements to ensure that the needs of all our students affected by this matter are being catered for.

“Students are advised to remain calm; students of the college are well prepared for their examinations and are being advised to continue their study programme as planned.

“Teaching staff are making personal contact with each student affected, and students are invited to the school where personnel from the English, guidance and other departments are available to them.”

A handful of Leaving Certificate students at the school, some of which sat yesterday’s engineering paper, said that only a small number of their classmates had seen the withdrawn exam, but that word of its contents had spread quickly.