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Get Ready for Secondary School Moving onto post-primary
As another school year rolls around it could soon be your child’s last one in primary school. Even if your child is still in the middle of primary, it’s never too early to start thinking about secondary school.
The Irish secondary (also known as post-primary) school cycle is generally five or six years long. Term usually starts in the first week of September and ends in the first week of June (although children sitting state exams – the Junior Cert and/or the Leaving Cert will finish later).
Children begin their secondary school studies around the age of 12 and leave around the age of 17 or 18, usually having sat both Junior Cert and Leaving Cert. The first three years of secondary school culminate with the Junior Cert exam. Transition Year (TY) is an optional one-year school-based programme designed to act as a bridge between Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle. It can be lots of fun, and a great chance to make new friends at school, discover new interests, or try out different subjects! After sitting the Junior Cert or completing TY, students have the option to choose from three different Leaving Certificate programmes - the tradition Leaving Certificate, The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme or the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme.
The post-primary school system in Ireland includes secondary schools, vocational schools, community or comprehensive schools and fee-paying secondary schools. The majority of secondary schools in Ireland are free, but there are also many fee-paying schools. Vocational schools and community/comprehensive schools are all free. The latter schools tend to provide both academic and technical education.
In Ireland it is the responsibility of the parent to choose a secondary school for their child. While this has certain advantages the downside is that it is up to the parents to contact each and every school they are interested in individually. Obviously different schools have different methods for application and different deadlines. Parents looking to have a child start in secondary education next September need to start looking at schools now. Apart from anything else many schools, even state schools, may have a waiting list.
To find a school for your child visit The Department of Education and Skills website (www.education.ie) which has lists of secondary schools – free, fee paying and boarding schools. Almost all fee paying schools and many state schools require students to sit an entrance exam.
The costs of fee-paying secondary schools can vary considerably. But even if your child is going to a state school it’s still an expensive business as parents are responsible for paying for books, uniforms and any extras your child requires for their education. Parents also have to pay fees for their child to sit both Junior Cert and Leaving Cert exams.
Each year the government provides a BSCFA – Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to help parents offset the cost of new school uniforms. Unfortunately this is not a universal scheme – for more information and to see if you qualify for financial assistance go to www.citizensinformation.ie.
School Transport Scheme: The Department of Education and Skills provides subsidised school transport for post-primary pupils living more than 4.8 kilometres away from the appropriate school. Children eligible for transport who hold valid Medical Cards to not pay a charge. www.buseireann.ie
Remote area grants are paid by the Department as a contribution towards private transport arrangements for eligible pupils for whom no transport service is available. These grants may also be paid for eligible pupils who live 3.2 kilometres or more from the nearest pick-up point for school transport. Application forms can be downloaded from www.education.ie.
While parents struggle with finances it can sometimes be easy to forget what a huge milestone this is in your child’s life. Making the transition from the cosy world of primary school, with one class and one teacher, to the (usually) larger institution of secondary can be intimidating. The longer school hours and the increased workload, which requires children to manage their time and prioritise homework, can also come as a bit of a shock. Especially, if, for example, your child is the eldest or only one and hasn’t witnessed at first hand the sheer volume of school work they are expected to do.
While selecting schools it’s now usual for parents to attend ‘open days’ but once you have a definite place at a school check to see if there is an induction day and a chance for your child to see the school before they start.
I can still clearly remember the morning of my first day at secondary school. I was sick to my stomach with nerves. I had been on a brief school tour (during the holidays, which really didn’t help as I didn’t see the school at work) and I didn’t know one other person who was starting there that day. My mother told me not to worry that not only was I going to make friends but friends for life. She was right.
If none of this works get out pictures of you and your friends in secondary school. Guaranteed your children will kill themselves laughing at your ‘awful’ hair and general lack of cool and they will feel a lot better about their own prospects as a result.