The results of Leaving Certificate Appeals 2017 were communicated to students this week, but what happens next?

 

 

 

Candidates who are found to have achieved different results to those awarded in mid-August have had their results forwarded to CAO by the State Examinations Commission.

The CAO has now issued a total of 329 offers to applicants as a result of Leaving Certificate upgrades on appeal. Of those 329 offers, 305 offers were issued for Level 8 courses and 24 offers were issued for Level 7/6 courses.

 

 

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Aoife Walsh: It can be tough getting a place in medicine, but there are plenty of routes to consider

While entry to medical school can be highly competitive, there are many options for those determined to pursue this area of study.

CAO and HPAT

 

Budget 2018 – What does it mean for education, job creation and career opportunities?

 

 

Minister Paschal Donohoe has today committed to increased spending in Budget 2018 for frontline staffing in Education, Health and An Garda Síochána. Inceased expenditure in Construction will mean further demand for workers in the sector. Tourism has also been given a boost.

Summary budget details announced by Minister Paschal Donohoe today:

• Under the Education allocation there will be an additional 1,300teaching posts next year to reduce the primary pupil teacher ratio to 26:1.
• There will be €1.7 billion invested in special education, with more than 1,000 new Special Needs Assistants being recruited before September 2018. Childcare is also to receive an extra €20m to support the extension of the free pre-school programme and other measures.
• An additional 800 Gardaí are to be recruited during 2018.
• Another 500 civilians to be hired for an Garda Síochána during 2018.
• Health allocation includes additional 1,800 staff in frontline services across acute, mental health, disability, primary and community care sectors.
• €1.83 billion has been allocated to housing in Budget 2018. An extra €500m is being allocated for the direct building programme, which will see an additional 3,000 new build social houses by 2021, increasing the existing target of social housing homes to 50,000, of which 33,500 will be delivered through construction.
• 6,000 new apprenticeships and 10 new apprenticeship schemes in 2018
• 1,000 additional Springboard places will be introduced.
• 2,100 extra places will be provided in higher education to cater for demographic growth.
• The VAT rate on the tourism and services sector will remain at 9% and an allocation of over €2 billion in total funding for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been made for next year. This includes €112m for funding to further enhance the country’s tourism offering and to market the Ireland abroad.
• The minimum wage is to increase from €9.25 to €9.55 from January 2018.

Careers News

 

1. Changes in TCD
2. NUI Galway Tralee Information Evening- change of date
3. UCC Information for Guidance Counsellors
4. New Courses in LYIT
5. Technology helps students with Special Needs

Transition Year – Law

 

‘The Bar of Ireland’s “Look into Law” Transition Year Programme is an exciting initiative aimed at increasing students’ awareness of the work of The Bar of Ireland and to encourage students to consider a career as a barrister.

This annual “Access all areas” programme, takes place on Monday 5^th to Friday 9^th February 2018, the programme aims to encourage schools and students from a wide cross-section of society to apply to take part.

The programme is aimed in particular at those who would otherwise have no access to the Bar. To help achieve this, 20% of places are reserved for DEIS schools. 100 places are available with 20% given to DEIS schools and the remaining places allocated by a random lottery draw performed by The Bar of Ireland on Wednesday 22^nd November 2017.

The progamme is open to students form Transition Year up to 6th year and the application process will open Monday 23^rd October and close at 5pm on Monday 20^th November 2017.

Because of the high levels of interest in this programme and the limit of 100 places, schools are asked to nominate one student per year to participate in the programme.

Applications can only be made through the school and not individually. Any applications received outside the application process dates will not be accepted.’

Primary Teaching

The Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton T.D. has announced new minimum entry requirements for primary teacher training programmes for the 2018/2019 academic year.

In addition to the points required for entry to programmes of primary initial teacher education (ITE), the Department of Education and Skills specifies minimum entry requirements in the core subjects: Maths, English and Irish. This is to ensure that primary teachers have the capacity to lead learning in these vital areas.

Changes announced have set higher minimum entry standards to programmes of primary initial teacher education for Leaving Certificate Maths and English at Ordinary Level and Irish at Higher Level.

Careers News

 

1. Graduate Career Information Evening – UL
2. Meet Dutch Universities in Ireland this month
3. New Courses in IT Carlow
4. NYCI’s Pre-Budget Submission
5. IT Carlow Open Days

 

SUSI – Student Universal Support Ireland

 

SUSI – Student Universal Support Ireland, has awarded grant funding to 68,000 students for the 2017/18 academic year, representing is 83% of the expected awards for 2017/18.

50,000 students received their grant by the end of September. The remaining awarded students will receive their grants as soon as their college confirms that they are registered and attending, and “for those receiving a maintenance grant” when the students themselves submit their bank details through their online SUSI accounts.

In addition to the published monthly maintenance payment dates, payments are being made by SUSI on a weekly basis until Christmas to ensure that as many students as possible are paid as soon as such confirmation is received.

SUSI has received almost 101,000 applications for 2017/18, to-date (16% of which were received after the priority processing deadlines). 81,000 of these applications have already been completed – 68,000 awarded and 13,000 refused/cancelled. This is further progress on 2016/17, which in itself was an extremely successful year for SUSI.

 

 

https://youtu.be/JP7f4iRVt4g

Going to college: Leaving Cert students must make the best of their time with the guidance counsellor

In 2012 the protected hours available for guidance and counselling in schools were removed and, as a result, school leaders had to make difficult decisions between providing guidance and counselling or subject teaching. The consequence was many schools cut their guidance hours and education professionals ceased entering the training courses.

This year, there has been a partial re-introduction of previously available hours. However, it is near impossible for many schools to find suitably qualified candidates. As a result, there may be fewer hours available than ever in some schools.

Extra pressure on the guidance system means students should endeavour to make the most of this time. This is especially important for Leaving Cert students.

In many schools, the guidance counsellor’s priority at this time of year is a careers meeting with Leaving Cert students. This is an opportunity for each student to discuss their individual needs with a professional who is impartial and focused on helping the student achieve their goals. Topics can include, but are not limited to, study and revision, courses, career path etc, and the content of the conversation will vary depending on the needs of individual students.

 

July is right time for ‘Leaving Cert holiday’

Many students report that sixth year is one of the best years of their school lives. When they make this statement they are not normally thinking of the academic side of things.

Their final year in school is also a time when they enjoy some truly memorable experiences with friends and classmates with whom they have shared their educational journey over the previous six or, even, 14 years.

Students are also often distracted with organising celebrations of exams that have not yet taken place. This includes the ‘Leaving Cert holiday’.

At this time of year, many sixth year students are busy planning this event, which seems to have become part of the end-of-school ritual for increasing numbers.

As a result, one essential piece of advice I find myself giving to students at this time of year is to think about the timing of their holiday.

As ridiculous as it may sound, it is essential that this trip is not booked for the week of the Leaving Cert results and CAO offers.

In 2018, the results are likely to be released on Wednesday, August 15, with the CAO offers following on Monday, August 20.