| board of management (plural, boards of management) |
Established under the terms of the Education Act 1998, boards of management, usually comprising representatives of the school owner(s) (patron), the teachers and parents, have a duty to manage the school on behalf of the patron and to the benefit of the students and their parents. Boards of management are expected to provide an appropriate education for every student at the school, in accordance with any policies determined by the national Minister for Education and Science. |
| first-level |
Primary education in Ireland (children aged 6-12) is often referred to as first-level education. (Many children start publicly-funded first-level education from age 4.) |
| Junior Certificate |
Taken on completion of junior cycle education (students aged around 15), the Junior Certificate examination, available in all subjects and at various levels, marks the end of compulsory education in Ireland. |
| junior cycle |
The first three years of secondary education in Ireland, students aged 12-15, which are compulsory, are usually known as junior cycle education. |
| Leaving Certificate |
A two-year programme of studies in post-compulsory upper secondary education leads to the terminal Leaving Certificate examination. Entry to further or higher education institutions is determined by students' point scores in the Leaving Certificate. Students normally take the Leaving Certificate examination at age 17 or 18, after five or six years of post-primary education. |
| #Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) |
The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) is a two-year programme of studies which leads to a terminal examination at age 17 or 18, after five or six years of post-primary education. Its primary objective is the preparation of participants for adult and working life through relevant learning experiences. Students study general (academic) subjects, vocational subjects and spend a proportion of their time in 'vocational preparation'. The LCA is intended to meet the needs of those students who either chose not to opt for other Leaving Certificate programmes or who are not adequately catered for by other Leaving Certificate programmes. |
| post-primary |
The term generally used for all forms of secondary education, including junior cycle and senior cycle. |
post-primary school
(plural, post-primary schools) |
The term generally used for all forms of secondary school in Ireland. |
| resource teacher |
A teacher who provides support for children with disabilities who are integrated in the mainstream |
| second-level |
A term used in Ireland to describe secondary education (including junior cycle and senior cycle). |
| senior cycle |
The term describes the two or three years of post-compulsory education in school (students aged 15-17/18), following the junior cycle. |
| SERC Report |
The Report of the Special Education Review Committee. The Special Education Review Committee was set up by the Government in 1991. Its purpose was to review services in special education, and make recommendations for the future development of such services. The Report was published in 1993 and had a major impact on special educational needs provision in the Republic of Ireland. |
| #special educational need, (plural, special educational needs (SEN) |
The Education Act 1998 defines special educational needs as the educational needs of students who have a disability and the educational needs of exceptionally able students. |