Guidance at Coláiste Bhaile Chláir refers to a range of learning experiences provided in a developmental sequence that assist students to make choices about their lives and to make transitions consequent on these choices. These choices may be categorised into three separate but interlinked areas.
Guidance
Encompasses developmental skills crucial to the student’s education and career — self-awareness, decision making, planning, and coping strategies.
Transition Year · 5th Year · Leaving Cert Applied
3rd year students need to consider three options: applying for Transition Year, going straight into 5th Year with subject choices, or going into Leaving Cert Applied. A Subject Symposium on Tuesday 24th March allows students to speak with current 5th years about each subject. TY application forms and subject choices are submitted on Tyro. Not all students can be accepted into TY — submitting a strong application is important.
TY students must decide between Leaving Cert Applied or the Traditional Leaving Cert with subject choices. A presentation for parents takes place on Monday 2nd March at 7pm. The TY Parent–Teacher meeting is on Tuesday 24th March at 4:15pm, which can be used to discuss subject choice with teachers. TY students will work through a subject choice booklet during Careers classes.
Full presentation covering Leaving Certificate subject choice, points system (max 625), subject options across Science, Practical, Arts & Creative, Business and Social subjects, LCA, the updated LCVP/LCW structure, all three senior cycle pathways, PLC courses, and 76 apprenticeship options.
cao.ie/handbook.php
cao.ie — video guides
cao.ie — parents guide
cao.ie — important dates
Computer-Based Course Matching Programme
A computer-based programme matching your interests and academic abilities with suitable degree courses. MyUniChoices is an independent, unprejudiced assessment that reveals your interests, skills, personal qualities and academic abilities — and matches them with the most suitable degree courses and colleges across Ireland and the UK.
Access Programmes
HEAR & DARE
Access schemes providing reduced CAO points and additional college supports — HEAR for eligible students based on socio-economic background, and DARE for students with a disability.
Language Requirements
NUI Matriculation
NUI colleges (UCD, UCC, NUIG, Maynooth, RCSI) require a modern language for many courses, particularly Arts, Human Sciences, Social Science and Medicine. UL, MIC and Trinity also require a language.
Note: Language exemption forms must be submitted to each college individually.
