Cork students ‘have the work done’ as they start their exams 

After many months of study, students in schools across Cork will finally start their Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations this morning.

There are 7,007 students sitting the Leaving Certificate exams and 369 Leaving Certificate Applied candidates in Cork, with a further 8,376 students sitting the Junior Certificate exams.

The exams will run until Tuesday, June 24, for Leaving Certificate students (established and vocational); Thursday, June 12, for Leaving Certificate Applied, and Monday, June 16, for Junior Cycle students.

First up for the Leaving Cert is English paper 1, which got underway at 9.30am. 

Supportive

Speaking to The Echo, Kinsale Community School principal Fergal McCarthy said: “The students have the work done.

“Their families have been very supportive of them. When a student is doing a Leaving Cert, that affects the whole home. It requires the support of all of the family.

“The parents and family have to meet that student with the exact support, and surround them with the type of care that they know that they deserve and know that they require.”

Kieran Golden, principal at Mayfield Community School, said students are ready to get started with their exams.

“They have worked hard. They are very much good to go. We wish them the very best of luck. We are really proud of them. They are a great bunch of kids.”

Encouraging

Coláiste Chríost Rí deputy principal Liam Shorten told The Echo his role, and the role of fellow academic staff, is to help the students during the exam period as best as they possibly can.

“They have the work done. At this stage it is about putting the lads at ease, encouraging them and reassuring them is our role really.

“These students have been through the covid cycle, so they have faced challenges already, and this is no different.”

Cork North Central TD and Labour Party education spokesperson Eoghan Kenny sent his best wishes to all students sitting exams over the coming weeks.

“Exam season can be a time of extreme stress for young people,” he said. “I would urge students to just do their best and try not to put themselves under added pressure over the next few weeks.”