Career Guidance

Guidance Counselling in St Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School is offered to all students. The service aims to help students to develop an awareness and acceptance of their talents and abilities; explore possibilities and opportunities; grow in independence and take responsibility for themselves; to make informed choices about their lives and to follow through on those choices.

Ms Harrington, in the interest of students and to provide an appropriate guidance service liaises with the Principal and Deputy Principal, Class Teachers, Resource Teachers and Subject Teachers. Regular contact is also made with Parents, Employers, Colleges and the Department of Education and Skills.

The whole school guidance plan for 2023 can be accessed here

Our digital Guidance policy is here. We have a comprehensive confidentiality policy which can be read here.

The role of the Guidance Counsellor may be categorised under the following headings

Career Guidance

Educational Guidance

Personal Guidance.

Career Choice

No matter what a student decides to do after school, it is important that they make informed decisions. Career choice decision-making is an ongoing process. Ms Harrington can help students to recognise the range of options available after completing the Leaving Certificate.

The following World of Work document will help Fourth Year students in choosing their options for Leaving Certificate. Click here. We also recommend students watch the following:

https://classroomguidance.ie/videoguides/

There are many websites designed to aid career choice:

www.qualifax.ie

www.careersportal.ie

Throughout the year it is important for students to attend college open days. Open days are an excellent opportunity to learn more about the colleges of interest and the educational opportunities they offer, to talk with staff and students and to get a real feel for life on the campus.There will be a lot to do on the day so students should get the guide to find out what is happening before they go, these can normally be downloaded from the college website, and they can then plan which talks to attend and which departments to visit. Students should write down any questions they have about the college, course, accommodation etc.

Students interested in studying in the UK should go to www.ucas.com.

Students who are interested in European colleges can go to www.eunicas.ie and to study in the US www.collegeboard.org.

Students can also apply for Post Leaving Cert (Level 5/6 NFQ) courses. PLC courses are NOT on the CAO form. Full details of all PLC courses available can be viewed on careeersportal.ie – applications are made directly to each college.

For information on the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) and/or the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) go to www.accesscollege.ie.

Registrations for HPAT – normally open in early November. Before registering, all applicants must first get their CAO number. This number is needed to successfully complete the HPAT. For more information go to www.hpat-ireland.acer.edu.au.

We have regular speakers into school – see attached.