Education in Ireland

Sending your child to school

The mission of the Department of Education and Skills is to provide for a high quality education which will:

• enable individuals to develop their full potential and to participate fully as members of society, and
• contribute to Ireland’s social, cultural and economic development.

The Irish School System

It is compulsory for children to receive an education from the age of six to sixteen (or until they have completed three years of the post-primary cycle).

Children often start school in the September following their 4th or 5th birthday, if school places are available locally. To enrol your child, you should contact your school no later than March of the year in which you want your child to start.

If you arrive in the middle of a school year, you should apply to the school, as soon as possible, especially if your child is over 6 years old.

At primary school, children usually complete two years of junior classes, followed by a further six years as they move from first class through to sixth class.

Usually at the age of twelve or thirteen, they then move on to post-primary education.

They spend three years in the junior cycle of post-primary education. Students normally take their Junior Certificate Examination at the end of this three year cycle. They would normally present for eight or nine subjects in this examination.

After completing the junior cycle, the students may follow the Transition Year programme for one year. Participation in this programme may be compulsory or optional in a school. This programme focuses on personal development as well as learning about different subjects and provides experience of working and adult life.

The next two years are spent preparing for the Leaving Certificate Examination. Students normally present for seven subjects in the Leaving Certificate.

Most students continue into higher education, further education or training after they have completed post-primary education. Entry into higher education for school leavers in Ireland is based on their Leaving Certificate Examination results.

There are no fees for tuition in most Irish schools other than fee-paying schools. In practice, however, parents pay towards the cost of uniforms, books, school materials, school trips etc. Many Irish schools also hold fundraising activities in which parents become involved.

Schooling for Newcomer Children

The diversity which has come from the increased inward migration to Irish society means that Irish schools are now host to children from approximately 160 countries around the world, many of whom have different languages, cultures, traditions and beliefs. Many young migrants do not speak English. Language support is provided in schools where students have a recognised language need.

You can enrol your child in a school of your choice as long as there is a place for them. In some schools, there may be long waiting lists to get a place. It is important that parents contact a school as early as possible and apply to the school in writing or on an enrolment form which the school will give them. To have a greater choice of schools for their children, parents may wish to contact a number of different schools.

Schools have a written admission policy. This policy can be used to set out how places are allocated, particularly where demand is greater than the number of places available. For example, some schools may give preference to a child who already has a brother or sister attending the school. Other schools may not take children until they are 5 years old etc.

It is recognised that parents play a central role and make a big contribution to their child’s education. It is very important, as a parent, that you motivate and support your child and encourage him or her to appreciate the diversity of the classroom environment.

The following are some common questions which newcomer parents may have in relation to their child’s education in Ireland. Links are provided to information resources which have been developed in a number of different languages.

Where can I get general information about the Irish Education system?

· The Department of Education and Science has information on its website for newcomer parents in English, Irish, German, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Spanish and Russian.
· The National Parents Council – Primary is a nation-wide organisation representing parents of children attending early and primary education. This organisation has produced information entitled “Your Child in the Primary School System” in English, French, Arabic, Russian and Chinese. It will shortly be made available in Urdu.
· The National Parents Council – Post-primary is a nation-wide organisation representing parents of teenagers attending post-primary education.
· The Citizen’s Information website has a lot of useful information on education related matters in English, Irish, French, Polish and Romanian.
· The Jesuit Refugee Service has produced a booklet Your child and schools in Ireland. in six additional languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Lithuanian, Polish, and Russian). It gives answers to many questions which newcomer parents may have.

What will my child learn in school?

· The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment produces information about early education, the primary and the post primary cycle, as well as the curriculum for each of these stages. Their dvd and broadband video showing you how you can support your child's learning at home before going to school, during primary school, and in getting ready for post-primary school is very helpful. The dvd & broadband video can be viewed in English, Irish, French, Lithuanian and Polish.

What do I need to consider when choosing a school place for my child?

· The Citizen’s Information Centre has information on what parents should consider when looking for a school place for their child.

Where are the local schools in my area?

· The Department of Education and Science website has information on local schools in your area.
· Local Citizen’s Information Centres can tell you where local schools are located and give some general information about choosing a school. The location of different schools can also be found on the Citizens Information website.
· Inspectors’ reports on many schools are available on the Department of Education and Science website.

What happens if I am refused a place in a local school?

You may be refused a place in a local school because there are no places available. To find out more information about the possibilities which are open to you as a parent, the Department of Education and Science website has information on the appeals process available to parents.

How can I best help my child with their schooling?

As a parent, you have a crucial role to play in helping and supporting your child in their schooling. For example, you can help them with their homework, ask them about their day in school, or become involved in school activities.

It is important that you talk to your child’s class teacher at primary level or to the subject teacher or year head at post-primary level if you have any questions or just to enquire about school in general. Some schools also have a Home School Community Liaison co-ordinator and the co-ordinator will talk with you about many aspects of school life.

It is important that you attend the parent teacher meeting, if at all possible, as you can learn a lot about the school, your child’s education, and can also meet other parents. Most schools will hold one official session of such meetings; however, if you would like to meet a teacher at any other time during the school year, you should contact the school to make an appointment.

Parents have a role to play on school boards of management, and you should enquire in your child’s school about its own board of management, and becoming involved with it. If there are social or other events happening in the school and you are invited along, do go. It can be fun and your child will be delighted you are involved.

· The All- Ireland Programme for Immigrant Parents has developed a useful toolkit which will help parents who are new to Ireland. The toolkit answers questions on education, health, housing, sporting and recreational activities. It also contains some legal information which may be of use to newly arrived people in Ireland, such as the requirements for a driving licence. The Programme will be delivered throughout the country.

What do I need to know about school attendance?

· The National Educational Welfare Board has been set up to support regular school attendance by children aged between 6 and 16 years, in particular. The Board has produced guidelines on school attendance in 18 languages: English, Irish, Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Estonian, French, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish and Yoruba.

Will I receive information on my child’s progress throughout the year?

· The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has produced information on reports which parents receive on their child’s progress throughout the year. This information is available in English, Irish, Polish, French and Lithuanian.

My child has special needs. What help is there available for him/her?

· The National Educational Psychological Service works with primary and post-primary schools to assist in cases where their students may have special needs. With permission from a student’s parents a psychologist will conduct an assessment. Where a child has an identified specific need then the Service works with the student’s parents and the school to assist the student.

· The National Council for Special Education was established to improve the delivery of educational services to persons with special educational needs, due to disabilities. Its website provides information on provision in schools for children with special educational needs.

Is there any financial help available if I cannot afford the costs of sending my child to school?

· Paying for the costs associated with sending your child to school can be expensive. You may be eligible for some assistance. To find out more, you can talk to someone in your local Citizen Information Centres or a Community Welfare Officer in a local health centre. You may be able to get help through the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Your Community Welfare Officer should be able to help you.

Resources

Materials have been provided to schools to raise awareness of cultural diversity and to support all staff in schools in addressing this issue effectively.

The Intercultural Guidelines prepared by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) help to ensure that both primary and post-primary schools are equipped to provide a welcoming, inclusive and supporting environment for newcomer children

There is also a range of resource material available on the NCCA website for both primary and post-primary teachers. This material can be accessed through the NCCA website. The Department of Education and Science is supporting the use of materials through training of teachers. Training is in place at primary level and in-service seminars are currently being delivered across the country. Training for post-primary teachers will be rolled out in 2009.

The Department of Education and Science website has access in German, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian and Spanish to the following key documents:

• Primary education - frequently asked questions

• Schools and the Equal Status Acts

• Appeals Process for our Main services

• Information Note on Teaching Support available to schools that have non English speaking pupils (Primary)

• Information note on Teaching Support available to schools that have non English speaking pupils (Post Primary)

• Revision of Circular 18/79 on Exemption from Study of Irish (Primary Circular 12/96)

• Revision of Rule 46 of the "Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools" in relation to exemption from Irish – Circular M10/94

• Guidelines on Countering Bullying Behaviour in Primary and Post-Primary Schools.

• Procedures for Lodging Complaints on Bullying (Primary)

• Complaints Procedure (Primary)

• Parents as Partners in Education (Primary circular 24/91)

• Parents as Partners in Education (Post Primary Circular M27/91)

• The Senior Cycle in Second-Level Schools

• Appeals Procedures under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 (Primary Circular 22/02)

• Appeals Procedures Under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 (Post Primary Circular M48/01)

• Procedures for Hearing and Determining Appeals under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998

• Procedures for Hearing and Determining Appeals under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 in respect of VEC Schools

• Appeals Application Form

• Working Together to make a difference for Children – Information for Parents

• A range of further information for newcomer students and their families is available on the newcomer pages of the Department of Education and Science website
  
  
  
  
  
  
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