Gaelcholaiste query/choosing secondary school

pritbop

Hello, just looking for some advice…my son is in 5th class in a gaelscoil. Last week I had a parent teacher meeting with his teacher. She thinks that his Irish isn't good enough for G'Cholaiste!!! I have a daughter (eldest) in 1st year G'Cholaiste and when we made the decision to send her there it was for the whole family (3 kids) as we really liked the school and bringing all to the same school made sense logistically, and I had asked my other children's teachers over the last few years if the Irish was up to standard. Now this is throwing a spanner in the works. If my son goes to a different school I don't think I can physically get there with traffic etc. I know we have a whole year and a half to go so I'm hoping that my son gets up to standard with the Irish! We did struggle making the decision for my daughter between and English secondary and the G'cholaiste so part of me is wondering should we just move her to the English secondary we almost sent her to which is nearer to the boys English secondary. Obviously she would have to be on board and ok to move going into second year! Advice appreciated. Thank you!

dory

How does the boy feel? Is he ok with going to the Gaelcholáiste?

Some students go from English primary to Irish secondary and they get on fine. I would send him, especially if the older daughter is happy out where she is. Then you can see how he's getting on in 2nd year or so. I can't imagine someone who makes it through 8 years of a gaelscoil would have an issue.

ted1

that sounds like nonsense, how bad is the school it after 7 years his Irish isnt good enough?

my daughter goes to what is ranked as one of the top Gaelcolasite in the country and they take in kids in 1st year who didn't go to a GaelScoil and who wouldn't have great Irish. It's never an issue.

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058384585/gaelcholaiste-query-choosing-secondary-school

If the older girl doesn't want to swap dont do it. Moving in secondary school is a big deal.

How does the boy feel about going? are all his friends going? does he want to go?

Can't see why they would recommend not to send him? seems a bit odd

All my kids are in the gaelscoil and at the moment we dont have an option for the G'Cholaiste in the area, but one a good distance away is trying to attract students to it from the school. they didn't say anything about how good/bad Irish had to be to attend and it seemed some students came from non-gaelscoils into the G'Cholaiste because the classes would be smaller.

Could you have a chat with the school principal?

GAAcailin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122961023#Comment_122961023

I would be trying to investigate further what this teacher is trying to message. Sounds like it came a bit out of the blue. Can you follow up with her?

Why is your boy behind in Irish, maybe he doesn't like it or finds it tough? We are in a similar situation - Have my eldest DD in secondary gaelcolaiste and she is flying. I have a younger DS in 6th who has mild dyslexia; his Irish is quite good though. We had offers from 3 other english speaking schools (the logistics of 2 different schools is not a problem for us) but on balance we felt he will be happier in the Gaelcolaiste; the learning support is very good and they can concentrate on more technical subjects. If you have a niggle that your son might have a learning issue - getting an assessment is well worth it as it opens doors to extra support ( I know nothing about your situation so not suggesting he does).

I would take what the others are saying here (re kids from non-Irish primary schools going to secondary Gaelcholaiste) with 'a pinch of salt' - they are generally very high achievers who have been to the Gaeltacht etc. I was educated in a Gaelcholaiste and that is the way it was when I was there. My daughter who is friends with a few girls from the english speaking schools often remarks that they are the 'brainboxes'… - slightly diverging here.

Good luck with it

Red Silurian

Sounds like the 5th class teacher isn't very good at his/her job if one of the students is failing at the language they are supposed to be immersed into from an early age.

As many others have pointed out most, probably all, Gaelcholaistí take on 1st years with no Irish at all and by Christmas they can't tell the difference between those that had and hadn't gone to all-Irish primaries. Regardless, the opinion of one person should not sway your decision of where to send your child

TL;DR I call BS from that teacher, send your child to the GS

witchgirl26

Speaking as one of those students who went from an English speaking primary to an all Irish secondary, your Irish does not have to be some sort of amazing.

I agree about probing the teacher more on this. I would be amazed that any student in a Gaelscoil would have fallen so far behind in a year (not even, in a few months realistically) that it had not been raised before as to question their ability to move on to a Gaelcholaiste. I would ask for a follow on meeting with details as to where he's falling behind and also what supports is she offering or solutions. It's not just up to the teacher to note any potential weaknesses but they should be working to help address them too.

dory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122961087#Comment_122961087

And I would advise taking this with a pinch of salt. I was one of those English to Irish transitioners in 1st year, certainly not a high achiever. The majority of my class were from non-gaelscoil background (none in the area at the time). We all did well. Found the gaelscoilers sometimes got a bit peeved that us non-gaelscoilers were doing as well as them in Irish.

witchgirl26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122961871#Comment_122961871

I'd agree with this. I was not one of the "high-achievers" in primary. Only reason I went to the school I did was family history! There were about 4 of us in total in my year & by the end of 1st year we blended in with everyone else. I did go to the Gaeltacht after 1st year but then so did a number of others from my year who'd been in a Gaelscoil before. The attitude from @GAAcailin is what can lead to people thinking that Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcolaistí are elitist & unwelcoming.

GAAcailin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122962624#Comment_122962624

Its opinion not attitude. Only speaking from my experience in a certain Gaelcolaiste and my DD who is in the same school now. Bit ridiculous the way on boards people get on their high horse - I am certainly not suggesting that 'Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcolaistí are elitist & unwelcoming'. Thread has gone nowhere as the OP is talking about her son who is currently in a Gaelscoil…

Treppen

Don't understand how a child in 5th class can go so long in the Irish speaking primary school and a teacher turn around to say their Irish isn't good enough!

Clarification needed or words with Principal.

Also maybe at parent teacher meeting with your other child, casually sound then out.

Maybe if you don't speak Irish at home! I know there are a few teachers in gaelscoils who get a bit peeved when they find out parents don't speak the gaeilge at home.

byhookorbycrook

Seems a bit unusual that a teacher would be saying this out of the blue, in 5th.

How has he scored in the Drumcondra Irish tests to date ? How is his standard of spoken Irish ? Does he struggle with homework ?

byhookorbycrook

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122966227#Comment_122966227

Most children in Gaelscoileanna don’t speak Irish at home, I’ve never happened across any Gaelscoil teacher who holds that view . Even in a Gaeltacht school, there are children attending where Irish isn’t spoken at home.

pritbop

Yes i spoke to an Irish teacher from the secondary school ( a friend, rather than official approach). She said it's never been a case of not having good enough Irish coming from our primary school. She said not to worry, he has a whole year and a half before secondary.Thanks, I might actually contact the secondary school principal as well.

pritbop

I know, I was thinking the same. She said he's fluent but struggles with reading and isn't as inclined as other kids to speak Irish in the yard.

pritbop

Drumcondra test last year he got 4 in Irish! That's another thing I can't get my head around, surely all gaelscoil kids should be getting high on irish as it's relatve to all kids going to school in Ireland, including English speaking primary? He gets better scores in maths so he has ability.

pritbop

4 in Drumcondra last year! Spoken Irish and comprehension is good, she said reading isn't great. Homework seems fine to me, he rattles off his reading, I chase him on spellings so he does grand in them but he avoids leaning verbs!

pritbop

Thanks, I'm going to set up a follow-up meeting coz he's saying he really wants to ho to the G'Cholaiste. Luckily it's not 6th class do we have time to improve.

witchgirl26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123028258#Comment_123028258

Right so it isn't a case of he doesn't have it, he just isn't using it maybe as much as others. I mean that's a totally different issue. If he's meant to speaking Irish in the yard & isn't (& is getting either himself or others in trouble because of it), that's more an behaviour issue rather than a learning problem. And some kids struggle with reading in any language.

Like I said, I went to a gaelcholaiste & to be honest, we only spoke Irish to each other during lunch if there was a teacher around 😂

I'd ask the teacher if there's any additional support for the reading as that seems to be the only academic issue here.

byhookorbycrook

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123028259#Comment_123028259

The Drumcondra done in Irish medium schools isn't done in English speaking schools- they use a different one (if they do it at all) The scores are standardised against all Irish medium schools- Gaeltacht schools included.

It is a poorly constructed test, at best. At one section, even if you get every single question right, you can't get a Sten 10. How did he score in the listening section- that would be important, though, once again , that subtest is not great. I

If you can find out the subtest scores rather than the overall Sten 4, I would. They are: reading vocabulary, reading comprehension and listening .

What did he get in English?

Hontou

My child joined a gaelscoil in transition year after never being in an Irish-speaking school before. Doing well. Kids are resilient. Do what suits your family.