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Alternatives to secondary school

  • 10-04-2021 05:09PM
    #1
    1moreyr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 110 ✭✭


    Are there any alternatives to mainstream secondary school? My daughter is 13 and in 1st year and absolutely hates it. Every day is a battle. School makes her anxious and primary school was the same. Sometimes she can't go in and other times the school rings me to collect her. She has asked about online schooling but I can't find anything for junior cert. I can see that there is a school in Dublin that offers online for 4th, 5th and 6th year.

    We live in Limerick. If she had the option she would go to one of the democratic schools but there is none near us. We were reading about the Sudbury school and she loves the idea of having more freedom, choosing what to learn and being able to go in between 8.30 - 10.30 and finishing anytime from 2.30 - 4.30.

    I have also come across iScoil but you have to be absent for 6 months from mainstream school to be referred for this.

    Mainstream school isn't for everyone and am worried that she will just give up on her education.


Comments

  • #2
    Moonbeam
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 19,029 Mod ✭✭✭✭Moonbeam


    https://www.education.ie/en/Learners/Information/Youthreach/ is there for over 15 year olds.

    Why does she hate school? I think you need to get to the bottom of this. Homeschooling is always an option or maybe a grind
    type school.


  • #3
    Ger Roe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,225 ✭✭✭Ger Roe


    Agree with Moonbeam,if the nuclear option of withdrawing from the mainstream system is taken - YouthReach might be a consideration.
    Some additional youth friendly presented info is available at the link below.

    https://spunout.ie/education/school/is-youthreach-for-you


  • #4
    trihead
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 442 ✭✭trihead


    Might be an option to look into further - They might be able to advise (you have to get referred though as you know )

    www.iscoil.ie


  • #5
    twohoots
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 ✭twohoots


    Hi there, I am just reading your post now. I am very interested to know how you and your daughter got on as I too am in the same position with my 14yr Old twin daughters. The root of the problem is sensory overload, burn out and the school environment and not meeting the child's needs. They are both top students but the anxiousness of the school environment has impacted their mental health grately.

    They never have issue with their school work, thats never been a problem .

    I would be very grateful if you would let me know how you've got on to date.



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