Our approach to quality teaching and learning ensures that all students at Coláiste Chiaráin are provided with high quality learning experiences that lead to a consistently high level of pupil achievement.  
 

 

Junior Cycle Reform

The Framework for Junior Cycle (2015), outlines the key educational changes that the Department of Education and Skills (DES) is putting in place for young people in the first three years of their post-primary education.

School
Self Evaluation

School self-evaluation (SSE) empowers a school community to affirm good practice, to identify areas that merit improvement and to decide on actions that should be taken to bring about improvements in those areas. It gives teachers and schools the opportunity to tell their own story.

SSE enriches the learning and the teaching experience for the benefit of all concerned. SSE is primarily about schools taking ownership of their own development and improvement.

SIP

School Improvement Plan

Schools are also required to devise a school improvement plan (SIP) that contains a summary of the areas for improvement identified as part of the self evaluation process.  

The SIP should identify:

  • Targets for improvement (with a focus on learner outcomes),
  • Actions required to achieve the targets (with reference to those who are responsible for taking actions)
  • Statement of how the school will check if the targets have been achieved and
  • Time frame for achievement of the targets.

Assessment

Our approach to assessment includes formative, summative, and evaluative approaches in line with best practices.

  • Students are given feedback to enhance their learning experiences and support continuing improvement
  • Assessment reflects learning intentions and success criteria.
  • Assessment reflects the school’s positive marking policy
  • Peer assessment
  • Self assessment

School
Literacy Initiatives

        Our Library Committee

  • Literacy Notice Board.

  • Weekly puzzle and Conundrums with prizes.

  • Building Bridges programme that builds literacy skills through pair and group work.

  • Paired Reading.

  • Transition Year class mentor 1st year students to enhance the enjoyment of reading in school.

  • One Book Project where all 1st year students select a reading buddy who read and discuss the same book.

  • Q&A activity where students and staff meet to discuss a particular book. We have completed three such activities where we focused on Coraline, Wonder and the Blood on the Rose.

  • Library Committee who undertake to run and manage of the school library.

School
Numeracy Initiatives

  • Notice Board weekly puzzles.
  • Maths Support
  • Transition Year mentoring with 1st years to enhance enjoyment of maths.
  • Parental survey on attitudes to maths in the home with a view to including parents with mentoring.