Sharing the policy on subject choice ......
The
aim of subject choice
is to provide students, in so far as is possible, the opportunity to study for
the Leaving Certificate subjects that:
- They
prefer to study
- That
will suit their ability and give them the best results
- That
will provide them with the subject requirements they may need for college.
The
process of choosing subjects begins in October and involves the following
steps:
1.
Career Classes on Subject Choice
with Third and Transition Year
The Guidance Counsellors will
take each Third Year class as follows:
-
Class
1: Introduction to Subject Choice and how
it works
-
Class
2: Career Interest Test
-
Class
3: College Entry Requirements
-
Class
4: CAO and the points system as well as a recap of the previous classes.
2.
One to one Meeting with Third
Year students
and where required Transition Year students. This meeting will be 15 to 20
minutes long and will involve a discussion of the students’ subject
preferences, their career interests and their progress in school.
3.
Special Classes on Each Subject
Starting in January, Subject
teachers will give classes informing students what their subject involves at
Leaving Certificate level. Home Economics
and Business teachers will invite students who have not done those subjects for
Junior Certificate to the talks.
Students who have not previously
taken Technology, Art or Music may do so at the teacher’s discretion.
4.
Information Evening for Parents
on Subject Choice
This
will take place in January and parents will be informed about the process of
subject choice as well as its’ implications for Leaving Certificate and for
going to College.
5.
Students complete their Subject
Choice Form
On
this form students will indicate their subjects in order of preference from 1
to 4.
It
has to be signed by the student and their parent(s)/Guardian(s)
A deadline for the return of the completed form will be given.
All
applications for subject options at any stage must be made using this form.
6. Guidance
Counsellors use Advance Learning to Administer that Placing of Students in
Classes as follows:
a.
Students
preferences are added to the system and the demand for each subject is
submitted to the Principal.
b. The
Principal decides on the number of classes that will be provided in each
subject depending on the demand, the number restrictions on subjects and
availability of teachers.
c. The
Guidance Counsellors will establish three bands of subjects that will, in so
far as is possible, provide as many students as possible with their preferred
subjects taking into account the following restrictions:
-
The
number of classes per subject as decided by the Principal.
-
The
limits allowed in each subject e.g. only twenty students allowed in Home
Economics
d. When placing students in classes,
the following is adhered to:
- Priority
is given on the basis of the students preferences. Students who put a subject Number 1 for
instance will be given a place in that subject before a student who put it Number
2 or Number 3.
- In
most cases students who have done a subject for Junior Certificate will get
priority over students who have not done the subject before. Exceptions may be made to this rule where the
needs of individual students require it e.g. students with special needs or
very weak students whose choices may be more limited.
- Students
who submit their subject choice forms on time will get priority over students
who were late submitting their forms.
- Forms
handed in late will be stamped with the date and the time and places will be
allocated to such students in chronological order.
- Students
who require certain subjects for LCVP or for certain college courses (where
this consistent with career guidance) will be prioritised over students with
less precise requirements.
- Transition
and Third Years have equal priority.
- Students
past performance in a subject may also be taken into account.
- At
every stage students may be placed in classes at the discretion of the Guidance
counsellor in order to achieve the ‘best fit’ for most students taking all of
the above factors into account.
- Students
waiting for a place in a subject will be put on a waiting list and will be
prioritised on the basis of all of the above.
- Should
students request a change of mind this may be accommodated once all original
preferences have been accommodated. Such
requests are dated and options allocated on a first come/first served basis.
7.
New Students Entering the School
New students coming from other
schools will be allocated their option subjects after all existing students of
the school have got their options.
