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Dear Parent / Guardian,
I am pleased to announce the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has released circular 13/21 in relation to the Oral Examinations 2021. I spoke with 6th year students early last week in relation to the orals but I can now confirm the following to you. 6th year students who have opted to sit a traditional leaving certificate examination in Irish and/or Spanish will sit their Oral examinations between 27th-29th March.
The approximate timetable for the Orals is as follows:
Gaeilge: Saturday 27th March, commencing from approximately 9.30 with the first candidate from 10am
Spanish: Monday 29th March commencing from approximately 9.30 with the first candidate from 10am
Please note that these times are subject to change. If times were to change due to unforeseen circumstances, each candidate will be notified as soon as possible.
Each candidate (student) will have the opportunity to meet the Oral Interviewer (Not an examiner) before the Oral examinations start. This will allow students to be reassured, get used to the interviewers voice and tone. It will also allow students to ask any questions that they may have.
The Orals will be conducted in the Deputy Principal’s office for each examination. There will be appropriate ventilation, perspex screens between interviewer and candidate and sanitising dispensers available. Sanitisation of the room will occur before and after each candidate has presented. There will be a device recording the Oral for each candidate. The recording will not be corrected by the interviewer. The recording will be compiled by the school and sent officially to the State Examinations Commission for correction. This will start in May. Students will only be able to appeal once the Accredited Grades have been awarded. Students will need to sign a candidate roll and must have your own pen and relevant documents with them for any Oral exam taken.
If students are unwell or symptomatic with Covid-19 and are unable to attend then the SEC has given school specific instructions if this should occur. I am asking each of you to support us by encouraging your son/daughter to minimise your contacts in the coming days and give
your son/daughter the best possible chance in the Orals.
Mr A. Murphy is the school's Examination Aide and he will be on site at all times during each Oral. Mrs Murray and I will also be on site at all times during the process. We will ensure that students have nothing to worry about so that they can give all their attention to the Oral exam.
This is the most important information that you need to know. The rest of the information released is for Examination Aide, Interviewers of Oral Exams and School Management. If you do have any questions over the next few days then please just let us know by phoning the school. We are here to support each of you.
Yours sincerely
Shane FitzGerald
Principal