Career Guidance

School Guidance and Counselling

The school’s Guidance Counsellor plays an important role in the personal, vocational and academic development of all students. Ms. Dunne is actively involved in the transition to third level and is available to meet parents should the need arise. Every effort will be made to guide pupils in their choice of subjects and, eventually, a career and suitable vacancies will be brought to their notice if they arise. Trial interviews, visits to third-level institutions, career seminars, etc, are organised for students each year.

What is Guidance?

Guidance in schools refers to a range of learning experiences provided in a developmental sequence that assists students to develop self-management skills, which will lead to effective choices and decisions about their lives. It encompasses the three separate, but interlinked, areas of personal and social development, educational guidance and career guidance.

Counselling is a key part of the school guidance programme, offered on an individual or group basis as part of a developmental learning process and at moments of personal crisis. Counselling has as its objective the empowerment of students so that they can make decisions, solve problems, address behavioural issues, develop coping strategies and resolve difficulties they may be experiencing. Counselling in schools may include personal counselling, educational counselling, career counselling or combinations of these.

Guidance Provision

Introduction

The Guidance curriculum may be divided into two components:

• Formal
• Informal

Formal Guidance

The Formal Guidance curriculum is delivered using two forms of intervention employing a number of methodologies:

1. Individual contact of a personal counselling nature and careers/vocational
   guidance
2. Classroom guidance delivered in regular weekly classes to the senior cycle
   students

Informal Guidance

The Informal Guidance programme consists of liaising with other Teaching Staff/Management to promote cross-curricular links and to enhance the development of a whole school policy in relation to the delivery of The Guidance Plan. Meetings with Parents/Guardians form an integral part of informal guidance.

Guidance Programme

1st Year to 6th Year