Education and Courses

We offer all of the following programmes:

• Leaving Certificate
• Leaving Certificate Applied
• Junior Certificate levels 2 & 3
• Junior Certificate Schools Programme
• QQI level 3
• Transition Year

Examinations Timetable 2019

Junior Certificate

Timetables Link

Leaving Certificate & Leaving Certificate Applied

https://www.education.ie/en/Learners/Information/State-Examinations/Examination-Timetables.html

Junior Certificate

The main objective of the Junior Cycle is for students to complete a broad and balanced curriculum, and to develop the knowledge and skills that will enable them to proceed to Senior Cycle education.

We offer a three or four-year programme for students sitting the Junior Certificate examination.  The extra year of study, at this level, provides our students with the additional time they need to fully learn and understand the course material, helping them to achieve the best possible examination results.  During their four years of studies, students take part in Project work, Field work and Outings

Our students are exempt from studying Irish.

All subjects are offered at Higher, Ordinary or in some cases Foundation level as appropriate to the academic ability of the student..

Mathematics is available at Higher, Ordinary and Foundation level.  Foundation level is available for those students for whom Ordinary level maths may be unachievable.

Subjects Offered:

Non-Examination Subjects:

Swimming lessons take place in the school’s private pool or in the state-of-the-art Inspire Pool at Deaf Village Ireland.

Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP)

The Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) is particularly targeted at junior cycle students who are identified as being at risk of early school leaving.

JCSP allows students to re-engage with their learning. It builds students basic skills of literacy and numeracy and places strong emphasis on the development of personal and social skills. It aims to ensure that each student benefits from their time in school and enjoys an experience of success.

In the JCSP programme teachers take a more flexible approach, analysing each student’s learning needs and strengths and planning a suitable programme of work around them. Teachers adopt active teaching and learning approaches, including cross-curricular thematic work that offers students a smoother transition from the experience of primary schooling. In addition, cross-curricular work supports students in making connections between the various areas of learning across the curriculum, while at the same time developing their basic skills.

Junior Cycle Level 2

Junior Cycle Level 2 will also be available to students over the coming years as it is rolled out nationally. More updates to follow.

Transition Year (TY)

Transition Year (TY) is widely used in Post Primary schools to broaden students’ educational experience and give each child an opportunity to reach greater maturity before starting Senior Level education.  It provides a bridge to help pupils make the transition from a highly-structured environment to one where they will take greater responsibility for their own learning and decision making. Pupils will participate in learning strategies which are active and experiential and which help them to develop a range of transferable critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.

Our TY year is available to all pupils who have completed the Junior Certificate or the Junior Certificate School Programme.  Projects include an enterprise or mini business,     subject projects, personal achievement goals along with additional classes in IT (information technology) and communication skills.

Most importantly, TY allows students to reflect on their future career options and educational opportunities to help them to prepare for the ever-changing demands of the adult world of work and relationships.  [Link to Career Guidance Section]

Leaving Certificate

We offer a two-year Leaving Certificate programme with these subjects and options:

If you would like further information about any of our subject choices, please contact Eimear O’Rourke, Principal:

Phone: 01 868 0058

Email: info@holyfamilydeafschool.ie

Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA)

The Leaving Certificate Applied programme is a senior cycle programme designed for students whose needs, aspirations and aptitudes are not adequately catered for by the traditional Leaving Certificate programme. It is a student centred programme and is based on active and practical educational experiences.

Aims and Principles of LCA

Prepares students for the transition from school to that of adult working life.
Develops students’ responsibility, self-esteem and self-knowledge.
Develops student’s communication and decision making skills.
Encourages independence.
Focuses on student’s needs and interests.
Active teaching and learning.

Assessment and Examination

Over the two year cycle, the students complete modules in each subject as well as student projects. The students accumulate credits, which are allocated as follows:

At the end of year 2 the students take final examinations in:

Subjects Offered in LCA

• English and Communications
• Arts Education
• Mathematical Applications
• Science
• Social Education
• Leisure and Recreation including Physical Education
• Sign Language *
• Hotel Catering and Tourism
• Vocational Preparation and Guidance Religion
• Information and Communications Technology
• Graphics and Construction Studies
• Engineering 
• Hair and Beauty

*(Participants from the deaf community are permitted to study Sign Language as an alternative to Irish and a Modern Language.)

 After LCA

On completion of the LCA programme students can go directly into employment, on to further education or into apprenticeships.

For further information see www.lca.ie

For information on Further Education programmes available at Holy Family School for the Deaf, see our Further Education section of the website