Guidance

The Guidance and Counselling Department assists students to make informed decisions about their lives and in doing so students are helped to set personal and career goals and to develop skills and strategies in order to achieve these goals. The Guidance and Counselling Department work with students on a one to one basis, through Career Guidance classes and other guidance related activities.

From 1st to 6th Year students are assisted in making choices and decisions in three areas.

1. Personal Guidance
2. Career Guidance
3. Educational Guidance

Personal Guidance

Through personal guidance sessions students are offered support in dealing with personal problems and are helped to find solutions to these problems.

Career and Educational Guidance

Students receive advice through one to one consultations and classroom guidance. Guidance Counsellors will work with students on some if not all of the following:

• Career Interest Inventories
• Aptitude testing
• Subject choice
• Developing research skills
• CAO application
• UCAS application and studying abroad
• CV and interview preparation
• Study skills and exam techniques
• HEAR/DARE applications
• Career development – transition to the working world
• Attendance at career exhibitions e.g. Higher Options/Open days
• Visits from representatives of Higher Education Institutions
• PLC application and information provision on various other training courses

Referrals

To the Guidance Counsellor: Year heads, teachers, school management and parents may refer students to the Guidance Counsellor working with their year group. Students may also make a self-referral.

To outside agencies: The Guidance Department establish links with appropriate outside agencies and recognises that at times certain students may need assistance from qualified personnel outside of the school. Following consultation with the student, parents and the agency the Guidance Department will arrange the provision of the additional assistance.