Career Guidance

Keep an eye on this space as we let you know about upcoming career/ college events, CAO dealines etc.

State Examinations Commission Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP) 

All students sitting the Leaving Certificate or Leaving Certificate Applied Examination this year are required to register on the CSSP. The closing date for registration on the portal is Tuesday, 21st February 2023 at 5pm.

The CSSP allows students to:

• Ensure that their name is recorded correctly by the SEC
• Ensure that their date of birth is recorded correctly by the SEC
• Confirm the subjects they wish to take at Leaving Certificate and the levels at which they wish to sit each subject.

The portal is pre-populated with data provided by the school. However, it is very important that students check the accuracy of this data as there may have been changes to it since it was submitted in October.

To access the CSSP, click on the link button provided below. Students will need the following to register on the portal:

• Their Leaving Certificate Examination Number (provided in school or sent to students via the Chat function in Teams)
• Their Personal Identification Number (PIN). The PIN is the first four digits of the candidate's PPS number.
• An email address and mobile phone number which the candidate will have regular access to over the coming months.

There is no requirement to pay examination fees at this time. The SEC will issue guidance in relation to the examination fees at a later stage.

To begin, click on the link below:

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CAO News

The CAO processess applications for undergraduate courses in Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Decisions on admissions to undergraduate courses are made by the HEIs who instruct the CAO to make offers to applicants.

The closing date for registration with the CAO is the 1st February 2023 at 5pm. The cost of registration is €30 if you apply before Friday, 20th January 2023. After this date the cost of registration is €45.

To find out more about the CAO application process, students and their parents/ guardians should join the CAO Online Presentation this evening, 17th January 2023. To register for this event, please click here.

Outstanding UCAS Applications

Any student who has an outstanding UCAS application to be finalised must notify Ms. Duffy via Microsoft Teams chat by Wednesday, 18th January 2023. This is the last day that we will processing UCAS applications in the school.

The following prospectus are available from Mr. Jackson's office:

*St. Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth (Bachelor of Arts & Theology Degree. Level 8)

*South East Technological University (Wide range of courses including Business, Sports Management/Science, Nursing, Law, Architecture and lots, lots more.)

New Practical Construction Courses in ATU Sligo

We have been informed of the following new courses in ATU Sligo which might be of interest to our students:

Level 8: Honours Degree in Construction Management & Applied Technology (AU946)

Level 7: Degree in Advanced Wood & Sustainable Building Technology (AU837)

Level 6: Higher Certificate in Applied Construction Technology (AU717)

ATU Sligo states:

"All the programmes have a good mix of practical and academic content and would be of particular interest to your Leaving Certificate students studying Design and Communication Graphics and Construction Studies."

Interested students can request an information leaflet from Mr. Jackson's office or go to www.itsligo.ie 

University College Cork - Accommodation Information

We have received an information booklet from UCC giving tips and advice on securing accommodation in Cork for students who wish to participate in an undergraduate programme there. The information booklet is available from Mr. Jackson's office and students can also go to www.ucc.ie/en/accommodation for further information.

Apprenticeships with the Office of Public Works (OPW)

The OPW run a 4-year Apprenticeship Programme in a wide range of areas, such as the following:

* Craft Stonemason and Stonecutter in National Monuments Depots, Nationwide

* Craft Carpenter and Joiner in National Monuments Depots, Nationwide

* Craft Carpenter and Joiner in Building Maintenance Service, Dublin

* Craft Wood Manufacturer and Finisher, Furniture Branch, Dublin

* Craft Construction Plant Fitter, Drainage Divisions, Nationwide

* Craft Metal Fabricator, Central Engineering Works, Dublin

Please note this is not an exhaustive list.

Apprenticeship training comprises the following:

 - on-the-job training on location

 - off-the-job day or block release training at a SOLAS Training Centre, an Institute of Technology, or a College of Further Education

If you are interested in becoming an apprentice, visit the Solas website, www.solas.ie .

 bit.ly/3eGyuHX to learn more.

Exemptions

It is important to note that exemptions are a seperate matter to supplying HEIs with information about a disability or specific learning difficulty. 

If an applicant, for any reason, is seeking exemptions from minimum entry requirements (e.g. exemptions from Irish or modern language requirements) then they should contact the Admissions Offices of the Hgher Education Institutions they are applying to (or, in the case of NUI institutions they should apply to the NUI without delay and no later than 21 days after opening their CAO account - see www.nui.ie for details).

Applicants must make arrangements for exemptions each year they apply.