1800 265 165: we can help...

WORRIED parents have been phoning a national exam hotline anxious about their children's Leaving Certificate results.

School guidance counsellors fielded 460 calls between 8am Wednesday and 1pm yesterday -- with four-fifths coming from concerned parents, said Rose Tully, co-ordinator of the National Parents Council helpline. A large percentage of calls came from parents who were unhappy with their children's results and who were asking about seeing the exam papers, she told the Irish Independent.

"A lot of students out there are disappointed with the results and want to see if they can get an upgrade," she said.

There were a lot of calls from parents seeking information about having results re-checked, she said, while there were also queries about the possibility of their children repeating their Leaving Cert year or certain subjects. Parents and students also expressed anxiety over CAO offers.

"They're worried. In a way they're feeling that they haven't matched up to their expectations and they're disappointed in their results," she said.

The free hotline at 1800 265 165 is manned by eight guidance counsellors. It will open from 10am to 3pm today and from 8am to 7pm on Monday and Tuesday, following publication of the CAO offers.


- Allison Bray

Irish Independent