Introduction to Guidance Counselling in St. Conleth’s Community College
Guidance Counselling is embedded in the student support network in our school. Your child will make significant decisions while at secondary school. These decisions relate to educational and career choices, personal concerns, and social issues. While guidance is whole school activity, Guidance Counsellors are trained professionals who have specialised skills to support students who are working through decisions, as well as those who are in crises. Our interventions include meeting with students on a one-to-one basis, meeting students in regular timetabled career classes (senior cycle), and organising information-gathering events such as open days and career fairs. First year class groups will be introduced to their assigned
guidance counsellor in September.
Aims of the Guidance Service in St. Conleth’s Community College
Guidance counselling aims to provide a caring and supportive service through the provision of counselling
in three key areas:
Educational – guide students about subject and course options. Provide support on studying. Advise on
further/higher education options.
Vocational – advise students about career, employment, and apprenticeship options.
Personal and Social – Support students in their holistic development.
Our aims also encompass the following:
• To provide career guidance to all students.
• To be available for personal counselling to students who may be in difficulty or crisis.
• To enable students to make suitable choices around their subject selection.
• To build and strengthen links between the school, higher and further education providers, local businesses, and the voluntary sector.
• To plan and deliver a curricular guidance programme which is reviewed regularly.
• To maintain up-skilling in guidance for the improvement of the service to our students.
Activities related to the work of the Guidance Counsellors in the School
• Providing one to one supportive sessions with first year students on request.
• Assisting with assessment for all incoming first years with the prescribed ability tests.
• Facilitating career interest assessment with senior cycle students.
• Co-ordinating subject information for third year students and their parents/guardians.
• Providing one to one career interviews with all sixth-year students.
• Providing TY, fifth- and sixth-year students with the opportunity to attend career events.
• Providing students and their parents with vocational information via digital platforms.
• Referring student/parents to external support groups/agencies where necessary.
• Assisting with aptitude testing for 3rd year students.
• Liaising regularly with the AEN team, the Behaviour for Learning Teacher, HSCL officer, SCP
officer, Year Heads, and other members of the school community to identify the needs of students.