First Year Guidance

Open Night Presentation

EXAM SUBJECTS COMPULSORY

  • IRISH
  • ENGLISH
  • MATHS
  • HISTORY
  • GEOGRAPHY
  • SCIENCE
  • CSPE

EXAM SUBJECTS CHOICE

  • FRENCH
  • GERMAN
  • HOME ECONOMICS
  • MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY-WOOD
  • ART,CRAFT& DESIGN
  • MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY-METAL
  • MUSIC
  • TECHNICAL GRAPHICS
  • BUSINESS STUDIES

NON EXAMINATION SUBJECTS

  • COMPUTER STUDIES
  • SPHE
  • RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
  • PHYSICAL EDUCATION
  • SPEECH AND DRAMA (OPTIONAL)

CHOOSE SUBJECTS

  • YOUR CHILD ENJOYS STUDYING
  • WILL ENABLE THEM TO WORK FROM THEIR STRENGTHS
  • CHALLENGE THEM TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR CAPABILITIES
  • OFFER A RANGE OF STUDY THAT IS MANAGEABLE (BALANCE BETWEEN THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL SUBJECTS)
  • PROVIDE LIFE SKILLS
  • WILL HELP THEM TO KEEP THEIR CAREER OPTIONS OPEN
  • WILL DEVELOP SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES USEFUL THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE
  • THAT ARE THEIR CHOICE AND NOT THE CHOICE OF OTHERS

FIND OUT ABOUT THE SUBJECTS

  • READ SUBJECT DESCRIPTIONS (www.examinations.ie www.education.ie)
  • TALK TO SUBJECT TEACHERS
  • LOOK AT TEXTBOOKS AND RESOURCES USED BY STUDENTS IN THE SUBJECTS.
  • TALK TO STUDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY STUDYING THE SUBJECT
  • LISTEN CAREFULLY AT CLASS TALKS
  • DOES THE SUBJECT MAINLY INVOLVE LEARNING FROM A TEXTBOOK?
  • ARE THERE ANY FIELD TRIPS,PRACTICAL WORK, OR EXPERIMENTS?
  • HOW MUCH ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON THEORY COMPARED TO PRACTICAL WORK, WRITTEN COMPARED TO ORAL WORK?

KEY FACTORS TO CONSIDER

  1. INTEREST- WHAT DOES YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER LIKE TO DO? WHAT ARE THEIR INTERESTS AND ABILITIES AND HOW DO THESE RELATE TO SCHOOL SUBJECTS.
    • CHOOSING SUBJECTS THEY ARE NATURALLY INTERESTED IN MAXIMISES MOTIVATION AND ENGAGEMENT AND INCREASES THEIR LIKLIHOOD OF SUCCESS
  2. ABILITY- WHAT ARE YOUR CHILDS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES?
    • ARE THEY VISUAL LEARNERS OR GOOD WITH WRITTEN MATERIAL?
    • DO THEY EXCEL AT PRACTICAL HANDS-ON LEARNING?

SEEK ADVICE FROM

  • GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS
  • SUBJECT TEACHERS
  • OTHER PARENTS
  • FRIENDS
  • STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY STUDYING THE SUBJECTS

WHAT NOT TO DO!

IT IS UNWISE TO EITHER TAKE OR AVOID A SUBJECT BECAUSE:

  • SOMEONE TOLD YOUR SON/DAUGHTER THAT THEY WILL LIKE OR DISLIKE IT
  • THEIR FRIENDS ARE NOT TAKING IT
  • THEY HEARD THE TEACHER IS NOT LIKED OR IS TOO CROSS
  • IT IS AN ALL “BOYS” OR ALL “GIRLS” SUBJECT
  • ONLY SWOTS DO THAT SUBJECT.
  • CHOOSE THE SUBJECT BECAUSE IT IS A DOSS!.
  • IF I DON’T DO IT I WONT BE ABLE TO DO IT AT COLLEGE.
  • SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO DO BUT YOU NEVER GOT THE CHANCE

WHAT TO DO IN BANAGHER COLLEGE

  • ON THE SUBJECT CHOICE FORM CHOOSE 5 SUBJECTS IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE FROM THE CHOICE SUBJECTS LIST
  • PLEASE ENSURE YOU WRITE YOUR SUBJECTS IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE i.e. No.1 being the subject you most want to do and so on.