Senior Cycle Options in Confey College Geraldine Clarke Guidance Counsellor March 2014

1. Senior Cycle Optionsin Confey CollegeGeraldine ClarkeGuidance Counsellor March 2014

2. Senior Cycle Options • Traditional Leaving Certificate • LCVP • Transition Year • Leaving Certificate Applied

3. How do I choose? You choose the senior cycle option which is best for you by considering • age • intentions for after school • aptitudes and interests

4. Subject Choices for the Traditional Leaving Certificate

5. How do I choose my subjects? You need to consider • Your strengths • Your interests • Your skills or aptitudes • Your plans for the future, i.e. do I plan to go to college, what would I like to do?

6. How can we help? • Talks to students over few weeks • Information to parents • Individual teachers can advise on their subject • The Guidance Counsellors can advise about course requirements

7. Subjects Available in Confey College Core Subjects: • Irish -Higher, Ordinary and Alternative Level • English -Higher and Ordinary Level • Maths -Higher, Ordinary and Alternative Level

8. Option Subjects Available at Higher and Ordinary Level only • Languages -French and German • Sciences -Biology -Chemistry -Physics

9. Option Subjects 2 • Business - Business - Accounting - Economics • Social Studies - History - Geography - Art

10. Subject Options 3 • Applied Sciences - Home Economics - Engineering - Construction Studies - Design & Communication Graphics Applied Maths sometimes available

11. How many subjects do I choose? Each student has 3 core subjects, i.e. Irish, English and Maths. You then choose 4 other subjects

12. But How do I Choose my Options? Consider – What do I need for College? Each College requires certain subjects before a student can be admitted. These are called Matriculation or Minimum Requirements

13. NUI Colleges • NUI Colleges include: UCD; UCC; NUI Galway; NUI Maynooth; St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth; NCAD; RCSI; St Angela’s, Sligo; Shannon College of Hotel Management; Milltown Institute; Institute of Public Administration.

14. Minimum Requirements NUI Colleges require: • Irish, English and a third language* • 3 other subjects • At least 2 HC3’s • Maths for all courses except Arts, Law and Social Science • Science, except for Arts, Law, Social Science and Commerce * For entry to Science & Engineering Courses in Maynooth a 3rd language is not required and another recognised subject can be substituted. A 3rd language is not required for entry to Engineering or Agricultural Science Degrees in UCD. Another recognised subject may be substituted. Students entering Nursing may substitute any other recognised for the 3rd. Language Students entering the NCAD may present Art in place of the 3rd. Language.

15. Minimum Requirements cont. TCD requires: • English, Maths and another language (Irish, french, German or other) • 3 other subjects • At least 3HC3’s DCU and UL require: • Maths and English or Irish • 4 other subjects • At least 2HC3’s

16. Minimum requirements cont. DIT and other IT requirements: • English or Irish and Maths • 4 other subjects – for Level 8 courses • 3 other subjects – for Level 7 courses • At least 2 HC3’s – for Level 8 courses

17. National Framework of Qualifications • What are the framework levels? • What is an award type? • What is an awarding body? • www.nfq.ie

18. College Courses • All college courses are listed as Level 6, 7 or 8 for students with Leaving Cert.which is Level 5. • Level 6 courses are usually 2 years and the Qualification gained is a Higher Certificate. • Level 7 courses are usually 3 years and are called Ordinary Degrees • Level 8 courses are 3/4 or more years and are called Honours Degrees.

19. Essential Subjects Many courses, especially at Level 8 will require you to have a particular subject and sometimes even to Honours level. These must be checked with the college brochure or on qualifax. For example: Engineering – you will require Honours Maths and often a Science subject also Medicine and other Paramedical courses – one or two science subjects (Chemistry very important as may reduce length of college course.)

20. Essential Subjects cont. Nursing – must have a science subject – not necessarily Biology Primary Teaching – Must have Honours Irish to get straight into Teacher Training Languages – for all NUI Colleges you must have a modern language (except for a small number of courses). For all courses that includes the study of a language. Business & Accounting – not essential for any course but would make college life easier if you intend to choose this type of career/course

21. Colleges in Ireland

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26. To Keep Your Options Open If you are not sure at all, or have only a vague idea of what you would like to do after you leave school then – • Take at least one science subject • Keep your modern language • Take 2 other subjects that you are good at, or that you enjoy and will do well at. N.B. - Points restrict entry to many courses more than subjects do.

27. Alternative routes Remember that there are many ways to reach the career of your choice. If you do not get the points you would need to do a Level 8 course, then you could start at Level 6 and work your way up. This is true for many careers and courses, but not all.

28. Post Leaving Cert Courses Post Leaving Cert Courses (PLC) are available in many colleges in Dublin and around the country. There are courses in almost everything you could wish for. They lead to a FETAC qualification Entry to these courses is based on an application to the college and an interview. Not on Points! They can be used to improve your prospects of entry to 3rd. Level Colleges, or to gain a qualification. Courses are from 1 – 4 years, with qualification from Level 5 to 8.

29. Schedule of Meetings • 20th March – meeting for parents about senior cycle options and subject choice. • 19th March – subject options morning • 2nd April– 2 meetings for parents about (1)Transition Year and (2) Leaving Cert Applied (LCA). • Meetings in school time about TY and LCA for students.

30. Key Dates for Subject Choiceselection: • Preliminary Option – March 28th • Final Option Decision – April 10th

31. Understanding Qualifications • Universities award qualifications • Some Institutes of Technology award qualifications • HETAC – Higher Education and Training Awards Council • FETAC - Further Education and Training Awards Council • SEC – State Exams Commission

32. Resources • www.qualifax.ie • www.careersportal.ie

33. Finally • Most Employers want a good graduate, but not of a particular type • Keep your options open as long as possible – keep your science and language if possible • Students should work as hard as they can now to get the best grades in their Junior Cert as this can often affect at what level they take a subject for the Leaving Cert. • If they are unsure, ask a teacher or the Guidance Counsellor for help Good luck with your decisions!