Starting post-primary school

Information

The education of students aged 12 to 18 years is catered for in the post-primary sector of education. Attendance at post-primary school is compulsory for students who are under 16 years. Most children starting second-level (called post-primary) education in Ireland begin school at the age of 12 or 13 years. Children must be at least 12 years of age on 1 January in the year they start second-level education in order to be registered in a post-primary school. There are a number of different types of post-primary school.

Choosing a post-primary school

In most rural and provincial areas, there is generally one school that is attended by all the students in that area. However, some parents and students, especially in cities or places where there is a very big population, may have a choice of schools. Here are some factors that you may want to think about when choosing a secondary school:

• The admissions policy: This should be described in the school plan, which the school is obliged to publish
• The curriculum: the range of subjects offered by the school
• School discipline: Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, the board of management is obliged to draw up a code of behaviour for students at the school
• Programmes offered by the school: Junior Certificate and Junior Certificate School Programme, Transition Year, established Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied, the Leaving Certificate Vocational and other programmes to support personal and social development
• Streaming of students: Does the school "stream" students? Streaming students means dividing them into different classes for all subjects from the time they start secondary school, based on the school's assessment of their ability.
• Assessment of students' progress and feedback to parents and students: Checking of students' progress, feedback to parents, arrangements for parent-teacher meetings
• Facilities: Student facilities are provided, for example a library, access to computers, a language laboratory and facilities for lunch, PE and recreation.
• Support services: guidance counsellor, remedial support for students, pastoral care
• Extra-curricular activities available
• Other factors including the school ethos (details should be in the school plan); student and parental involvement in life of school - whether there is there a student council and a parents association

Enrolling your child at post-primary school

You can send your child to the post-primary school of your choice, provided there is a place available for them. Where there is an accommodation problem, the school must give priority on the basis of their enrolment policy. This is drawn up by the board of management and should be available to you on request. While most post-primary schools are in a position to enrol all children who apply, there is no automatic guarantee of a place in the local school.

In order to enrol your child, you should first check the list of post-primary schools in your area. Then, you should contact the school of your choice to see if there is a place available. The school of your choice may place your child on a waiting list or you may need to contact other schools to find a place.

Starting post-primary education in Ireland

The vast majority of post-primary schools do not charge fees. However, students must pay for books and examination fees. In addition, there are other costs, such as school uniform. There are schemes to help low-income families meet the costs of schooling. A circular on the weight of schoolbags is found on the Department of Education and Science (DES) website.

Second-level education consists of a three-year Junior Cycle, followed by a two-year or three-year Senior Cycle. The Junior Certificate Programme examination is taken at the end of the Junior Cycle. In the Senior Cycle, there is an optional one-year Transition Year programme followed by a choice of three Leaving Certificate programmes. Each of these 3 Leaving Certificate programmes - the Established Leaving Certificate, the Leaving Certificate Applied and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme - is a two-year programme. Certain students are provided with an exemption from Irish. In certain specific circumstances students may be permitted to repeat a year, as described in circular M2/95 Repeating a Year at Post-Primary Level on the DES website.

Other aspects of post-primary education include:
• Education for students with special educational needs
• Equipment grants for students with special needs
• Examination arrangements for students with disabilities
• The post-primary school transport scheme
• Special educational arrangements for Travellers
• Measures to address educational disadvantage
• Programmes for non-English speakers.
• Your options when leaving school in Ireland