Guidance Department

The aim of the Guidance and Counselling programme is to help students to develop an awareness and acceptance of their talents and abilities, to explore opportunities and to make informed choices about their lives. It also aims to provide support to all students in a caring and kind manner. We recognise the importance of guidance and counselling in enabling each student to gain maximum benefit from the education system. Guidance is regarded as a whole school activity and one to which all members of the school community facilitate and contribute. The delivery of a comprehensive Guidance Programme is the responsibility of the Guidance Counsellors but a whole school approach is essential to realise this objective.
Guidance is provided within formal and informal structures to all classes in the school. All senior classes are timetabled for one class each week and have access to individual career and personal counselling through the appointment/referral system. All junior classes also have individual access to the guidance counsellors through the appointment/referral system. Our guidance department is made up of Ms McCormack and Ms McEvoy
In-Career development is essential to the work of the Guidance Counsellor. Regular attendance at local IGC meetings and Counselling Supervision is facilitated by the school. The IGC AGM provides a range of in-service through the provision of workshops and presentations relevant to our work. Additional in-service is organised at local or/and at national level and is open to all registered current members of the IGC. The IGC has numerous links with organisations e.g. Institute of Suicideology, IBEC, FAS, IAPC all of which offer in-career development. Attendance at open days, CAO seminars, career seminars etc all constitute in-career development.