Ireland Schools
A different view on education procedures
Why Ireland?
Courses
Schedule
The yearly school schedule for secondary students in Ireland is both alike and unlike the school years in the United States. Students in Ireland are required to attend 167 days of school - the school year lasting from late August to the following early June. They take Autumn, Christmas, Winter and Easter holidays or breaks throughout the school year. About a dozen public or regional holidays are also taken off, mostly on Mondays. Ireland schools also receive a two-and-a-half month long summer break before the next school year begins.
Although Irish students go to school for about seven hours each day, the same as typical American students, the start and end times differ. The usual school day in Ireland starts around nine o' clock AM and ends at about four o' clock PM. Depending on the school, students most likely attend eight to nine classes per day, each lasting 30-40 minutes long. For lunch, many schools allow students to go home and eat, then returning back for their next class.
Funding
All Vocational, community, and comprehensive schools are state-financed, meaning they don't charge fees. Most voluntary schools are financed by the state and choose to be non-fee paying per capita basis. Some voluntary schools don't receive the per capita grant, and charge several thousands of Euros, though this is only about 13.7% of schools.
Grading
The simple academic grading scale chart is shown below.
A: 100% - 85%
B: 84% - 70%
C: 69% - 55%
D: 54% - 40% (lowest passing grade)
E: 39% - 25%
F: 25% - 10%
Grade letters A through D are further divided into smaller percent ranges, and single-digit numbers are added after the letter grade. For example, A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, and so on, up to D3. A certain number of points are worth each grade letter/number. An A1 grade is worth 100 points at the higher level, 60 points at the ordinary level, and 20 points at the foundation level. Advanced students often take exams at the higher level, while others will take them at the ordinary level. Therefore, the number of points received by a student determines their Leaving Certificate results, that explains if the student can continue onto higher education. A grade of a C or higher is classed as an Honor grade, while any grade below a D3 is considered failing, so no points are given. Also, a grade below ten percent, or NG, is considered as No Grade.
Below is a more detailed grading chart.
Works Cited
“Academic Grading in Ireland.” Wikipedia. MediaWiki, 5 Jan. 2014. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_grading_in_Ireland>.
“Bishops Again Welcome Diverse School Patronage.” Kandle. Kildare and Leighlin Diocese, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://www.kandle.ie/bishops-diverse-patronage-ok>.
Department for Employment and Learning. “Graduating to Success.” N.d. PDF file.
“Education in the Republic of Ireland.” Wikipedia. MediaWiki, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland>.
“Overview of Schooling in Ireland.” Move to Ireland. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://www.movetoireland.com/movepag/schover.htm>.
“School Calendar Ireland 2013/2014.” Calendar.sk. Zoznam, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://calendar.zoznam.sk/school-enir.php>.
“School Terms in Primary and Post-primary Schools.” Citizens Information. Public Service Information, 26 Feb. 2014. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/primary_and_post_primary_education/attendance_and_discipline_in_schools/school_terms_in_primary_and_postprimary.html>.
“Secondary Schools in Ireland.” Matching in Practice. ERC, 3 May 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. <http://www.matching-in-practice.eu/secondary-schools-in-ireland/>.