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thinking of doing the leaving cert

  • 27-05-2010 9:13pm
    #1
    jap gt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭


    hi

    im not sure if this is the right forum, im looking for some info, i left school at 16 with out my leaving, i had a job lined up and went great until last year, now im 22 and out of work, i have been thinking of going back and doing my leaving, i hate the idea of going back to school, is there a way to do it from home or similar, any help or info offered would be great.

    thanks


Comments

  • #2
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,423 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    It is possible to do your leaving cert at a Post Leaving Cert college, but you would have to ask locally to see what was being offered. Contact your local VEC. PLC colleges have a high proportion of students in your age group and you would find it much more suitable than school - I'm not sure you would get into an ordinary school.

    However at 23 you will be considered a mature student, and you will be able to go into higher education on your merits. You could consider taking a PLC Fetac course for a year in the area you are interested in, then apply to an IT for access as a mature student.

    Unfortunately the Leaving Cert is only a step along the way these days, you really need to consider third level.


  • #3
    jap gt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭jap gt


    looksee wrote: »
    It is possible to do your leaving cert at a Post Leaving Cert college, but you would have to ask locally to see what was being offered. Contact your local VEC. PLC colleges have a high proportion of students in your age group and you would find it much more suitable than school - I'm not sure you would get into an ordinary school.

    However at 23 you will be considered a mature student, and you will be able to go into higher education on your merits. You could consider taking a PLC Fetac course for a year in the area you are interested in, then apply to an IT for access as a mature student.

    Unfortunately the Leaving Cert is only a step along the way these days, you really need to consider third level.

    thanks for the reply, well third level is what i would have in mind if i got my leaving cert, would i still need my leaving to be taken on as a mature student


  • #4
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,423 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    No, as a mature student your leaving cert is no longer relevant, you would be interviewed. However if you can show you have done a course and were able to complete it with reasonable results, it would go a long way towards getting you in to third level.

    You would find PLC a good stepping stone to college too, get you back into the routine of studying, learn how to manage your work etc.

    Edit, I am talking about ITs here, rather than University, I am not sure about University admission.


  • #5
    Vinoveritas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 64 ✭✭Vinoveritas


    jap gt wrote: »
    hi

    im not sure if this is the right forum, im looking for some info, i left school at 16 with out my leaving, i had a job lined up and went great until last year, now im 22 and out of work, i have been thinking of going back and doing my leaving, i hate the idea of going back to school, is there a way to do it from home or similar, any help or info offered would be great.

    thanks

    Depending on what you hope to do you have a number of options open to you.
    1. You can resit the Leaving Certificate in Fulltime Grind school - expensive
    2. You resit the Leaving Certificate through a VEC funded programme i.e.
    Vocational Training Opportunity Scheme (VTOS) - however, you need to meet certain criteria viz a viz lenght of time unemployed etc. This programme is aimed at 21 + age group.
    3. You can sit for a FETAC Level 4 or FETAC Level 5 Award (4 = Ordinary Level Leaving & 5 = Higher Level Leaving) in a range of subject areas that appeal i.e. see list of Level 5 options @ http://www.fetac.ie/fetac/awardsDirectory.do?method=getNFQLevelFields&nfqLevelId=5

    VTOS generally offers participants the option to sit for FETAC and/or Junior Certificate and/or Leaving Certificate subjects.

    There is also a scheme called the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) which offers early school leavers the opportunity to build towards Leaving Certificate equivalence on a part-time basis. All courses are free to those with less than Leaving Certificate standard of education, and those in receipt of a Social Welfare payment/medical card.

    If you are someone who either doesn't have the time/or the resources to attend a full-time progamme - this might be the one for you. This programme is run through all VECs' and also through a number of Community Providers.

    Best advice I can give you: You should definitely link into your nearest VEC for some free adult guidance - and they will be able to point you in the right direction.

    Re: Applying 3rd Level Mature Student
    You can apply for 3rd Level (certain programmes) once you are over 23. However, due to the huge demand for such places colleges will generally look more favourably on someone who has been engaged in some learning in the year prior to applying for a place. Here again the Adult Guidance service will be able to advise.

    Best of luck with whatever you decide.

    Regards

    V


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