Schooling in Ireland: The Basics

Schooling in Ireland- Immigration information for South Africans moving, immigrating, visiting or working in the Republic of Ireland

1) Preschool (with or without ECCE)

2) National School (Primary)

3) Secondary School (as we know it in South Africa, High School)

4) Third-level Education (College or University, Tertiary Education)

 

In Ireland it is compulsory for children to attend school if they are between the ages of 6 and 16, or they have completed 3 years of second level education (whichever is later)

 


Primary/ National School

Primary schools in Ireland are known as National Schools (referred to as first level education) and children usually children attend between the ages of 6 and 12. Children can however start school if they are 4 at the beginning of the school year in September.

Children attend primary school for 8 years

  • 2 Years in what is referred to as an infant cycle
  • 6 years from first class to sixth class.

At the end of each school year (not calender year) children move to the next class.

The school year starts at the end of August or beginning of September and ends in May (Post Primary) and June (Primary)

In Ireland Primary and Post Primary education is free for all children. Most children attend the schools that are funded by the state, however, there are a small number of Private schools. There are annual fees payable to attend these schools and parents are required to cover these fees.

Newcomers to Ireland (people who arrive in Ireland from other countries) must attend school if they are between the ages of 6 and 16 and are entitled to the same education as Irish children.

Under the Education (Welfare act) of 2000, the responsibility to ensure children attend school lies with the parents, and in the case of parents not being able to care for their children, their guardians become responsible


Primary Schools open from Monday to Friday.

Classes usually start between 9am and 9.30am but may not start later than 9.30. It will be up to the school what their opening and closing hours are.

A school day lasts 5 hours and 40 minutes. This includes assembly time, roll call and breaks.

There is normally a morning break around 11 am and a lunch break around 12.30 pm. It is important to give your child healthy food and drink for these two breaks. Schools encourage healthy eating and many schools ask parents not to give sweets, chocolate, crisps, food containing nuts/peanuts or fizzy drinks for lunch.

The school day may be shorter for children in infant classes.

Children start school anywhere between the ages of 4years and 6 years, so each grade spans a gap of 2 years in ages.

So primary school children can be place in any of the following classes:

  • Junior Infants (age 4–5/5–6)
  • Senior Infants (age 5–6/6–7)
  • First Class (age 6–7/7–8)
  • Second Class (age 7–8/8–9)
  • Third Class (age 8–9/9–10)
  • Fourth Class (age 9–10/10–11)
  • Fifth Class (age 10–11/11–12)
  • Sixth Class (age 11–12/12–13)

It is very difficult to "convert" grade versus grade from SA to Ireland, firstly because children can start school earlier in Ireland than SA and the calendar year means a mix in transition times. SA2Eire recommends not only do you discuss this when you enroll the child in school with the person dealing with the Enrollment, but to go gently on the child. Immigration is tough not only on you as adults, but on the kids too. Perhaps consider a lower grade or grade of their ability (even if that seems like they are repeating) but allows them time to adapt and find their way socially too. Remember, its highly unlikely they will be the youngest or the oldest in their class if you follow the guides above.

 


Secondary School/ Post-Primary

  • The NCCA Junior Cycle
  • The NCCA Senior Cycle

Post-primary education consists of a three-year Junior Cycle (lower secondary), followed by a two or three year Senior Cycle (upper secondary), depending on whether the optional Transition Year (TY) is taken. Students usually begin the Junior Cycle at age 12. The Junior Certificate examination is taken after three years. 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.

The Senior Cycle caters for students in the 15 to 18 year age group. It includes an optional Transition Year, which follows immediately after the Junior Cycle. TY provides an opportunity for students to experience a wide range of educational inputs, including work experience, over the course of a year that is free from formal examinations.

During the final two years of Senior Cycle students take one of three programs, each leading to a State Examination: the traditional Leaving Certificate, the Leaving Certificate Vocational Program (LCVP) or the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA).

Secondary schools, vocational schools, community- and comprehensive schools are all referred to as Post Primary education as well as second level education.

Most Schools open from Monday to Friday.

Classes usually start between 9am and 9.30am. It will be up to the school what their opening and closing hours are.

The minimum number of hours instruction per day is 6 and minimum instruction of hours per week is 28.

The school year has three terms:

  • The first term is from the beginning of September to December (Christmas).
  • The second term is from early January to March or April (Easter).
  • The final term is from after Easter to the end of June.
    * In the middle of each term there may be a short holiday called half-term or mid-term. This can vary from a few days to a week.

Schools must open for 183 days a year at primary level and 167 days a year at second level.

 The Junior cycle

  • First Year (age 12–13/13–14)
  • Second Year (age 13–14/14–15)
  • Third Year (age 14–15/15–16)

The Transition Year

Transition Year sometimes called Fourth Year (age 15-16/16-17)

The Senior Cycle

  • Fifth Year (age 16–18 or age 15–17 if Transition Year is skipped)
  • Sixth Year (age 17–19 or age 16–18 if Transition Year is skipped)

 It is very difficult to "convert" grade versus grade from SA to Ireland, firstly because children can start school earlier in Ireland than SA and the calendar year means a mix in transition times. SA2Eire recommends not only do you discuss this when you enroll the child in school with the person dealing with the Enrollment, but to go gently on the child. Immigration is tough not only on you as adults, but on the kids too. Perhaps consider a lower grade or grade of their ability (even if that seems like they are repeating) but allows them time to adapt and find their way socially too. Remember, its highly unlikely they will be the youngest or the oldest in their class if you follow the guides above.

 


Exemption from the study of Irish

Exempting a student from the study of Irish is only considered in exceptional circumstances. The decision to exempt a student is made by the principal of the school following detailed discussion with a student’s parents or guardians, the class teacher, special education teachers and the student themselves. If an exemption is granted, parents and students have the option not to avail of the exemption and do not lose the right to exercise it in the future.

The categories of student who may apply to be exempted from the study of Irish include:

  • Students whose primary education up to 12 years of age was received outside the State and who did not have the opportunity to study Irish.
  • Students who were enrolled in an Irish primary or secondary school and are now enrolling again after having been abroad. The student must have been abroad for at least 3 years. The student must be at least 12 years of age when re-enrolling.
  • Children of foreign diplomatic or consular representatives in Ireland.
  • Students who have at least reached second class and meet all of the following conditions:
  • Have significant learning difficulties that are persistent despite having had access to a differentiated approach to language and literacy over time. This should be documented in a Student Support Plan and
  • Have a standardized score at or below the 10th percentile in word reading, reading comprehension or spelling, at the time of the application for exemption.

Under the revised criteria for granting exemptions from the study of Irish, students in special schools and in special classes in mainstream schools are automatically exempted and do not have to make a formal application for a certificate of exemption. School authorities have autonomy and discretion to make decisions about the Irish language learning needs of these students. However, schools are expected and encouraged to give these students opportunities to take part in Irish language and cultural activities.

 


 

Important links:

 

  #MapMyMove- Our coaching Services - Confused or lost and need some direction, book a session with us to help untangle the confusion and work out your route of immigration

   Schooling in Ireland - The basics on how school works and the grades

   Enrollment at School - How to get your child in to a school

   Homeschooling - Curriculum and how to Home School

   Types of Schools - The different types of schools in Ireland

   Supports and transport - Special Needs supports and Transportation to school

   Third-level Education (Tertiary) - 3rd Level Education for children or adults

   Pre-School - How pre-school works in Ireland

   ECCE and Childcare in Ireland - The Early Childhood Care and Education and Childcare/ Aftercare

   The Cost of children in Ireland - Everything relating to the costs of bringing up children in Ireland

   Children with Special Needs

   Educate Together Schools - A specific type of schooling system available across parts of Ireland

    Child Benefit, HRC1 form and Operational Guidelines on Habitual Residence - Looking deeper at Habitual Residence, Child Benefit and HRC1 form

   Resources for this topic- Education related - Links to child benefits, childcare, ECCE, preschool, homeschooling, National school, secondaary school and third-level education

   Resources for this topic- Special Needs People related - Links to getting assistance with various special needs and disabilities, adults and children

   Admin before the move

   Admin once you're in Ireland

   Jnr cycle curriculum (12-15 years)

   Senior cycle (between 15 & 18 year olds)curriculum

   School dates and year

   The Irish Education System

   Exception from Irish language at school

 

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