ENNISCORTHY
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
B R O C H U R E
ENNISCORTHY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | BROCHURE
A Message from the Principal
On behalf of all our staff and students I want to take this opportunity to welcome
your child to our school. Enniscorthy Community College (ECC) which is under
the patronage of Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board. It is a
multidenominational and a co-educational school. The aim of the school is to ensure
that your child develops into a well-rounded individual and fulfils their potential so
that they are well equipped for the challenges that they might face after completing
their secondary education.
The school has several core values that are very important, and they are clearly
visible throughout the school community. They are as follows:
Teaching and Learning are very much to the fore in the school and a wide variety of
strategies are employed by teachers to ensure that all learners are catered for by
using differentiation and a variety of teaching methodologies. We also have a wide
range of extra-curricular activities both sporting and non-sporting and we strongly
encourage that students get involved in activities outside the classroom so that they
develop other important skills.
As Principal of the school, I hope as you are reading through this booklet you get
a good flavour of the wide range of activities that take place in the school and that
the school is a very caring and vibrant community. We are a truly inclusive school
where all members of the school community are valued and cherished equally. All
members of the school community are unique and have a positive contribution to
make.
We have a very dedicated staff who strive to ensure that your child gets an
education of the highest quality. All staff (teachers, SNA’s and ancillary staff) at
ECC bring great commitment and professionalism to their teaching and in caring
for our students with a strong emphasis on student wellbeing.
Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the school office
on 053 9234185.
Regards,
Dr. Iain Wickham
Principal
ENNISCORTHY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | BROCHURE
Mission Statement
Enniscorthy Community College endeavours to provide a secure and supportive
educational environment where all students can experience a quality of education
appropriate to their intellectual, physical, personal, social, moral and spiritual needs
in a changing world.
Curriculum
The school offers Junior Cycle, Junior Cycle Schools Programme, Transition
Year, Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and Leaving
Certificate Applied. Junior Cycle
Students in first year take core and optional subjects as part of their curriculum and
when combined make up 9 subjects and two short courses.
The core subjects include:
• English
• Maths
• History
• Science
• Irish
In instances where students are exempt from Irish, they get additional special tuition
classes.
Students then choose four other subjects from the list below:
• Business
• Home Economics
• Engineering
• Music
• French/German*
• Visual Art
• Geography
• Wood Technology
• Graphics
Note French and German rotate every year *
Please note the availability of options will be dependent on demand and teaching
resources. Students also have classes in the following non-examination subjects:
Physical Education (P.E.), Social,
Personal and Health Education
(S.P.H.E.), Civic, Social and Political
Education (C.S.P.E.), Computers and
Guidance. Students take short course in
PE and SPHE.
Students get to choose their optional
subjects prior to starting school but if they
are not happy with an optional subject,
they can change in the first month
provided there is space in the class.
ENNISCORTHY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | BROCHURE
Junior Cycle Reporting
Formal reporting on the progress and achievements of students will be through
annual reports in first and second year. At the end of the Junior Cycle, students are
awarded a Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) by their school. The JCPA
will reflect the student’s achievement across all relevant areas:
• Results of Classroom Based Assessments
• Success in other areas of learning
• Events students may have been involved in
• Achievement in Wellbeing
• State Certified Examinations
In autumn following their Junior Cycle exams students will receive provisional grades
from the State Exams Commission (SEC) and the JCPA will be issued after this.
The grade descriptors are as follows:
Distinction 90-100%
Higher Merit 75-89%
Merit 55-74%
Achieved 40-54%
Partially Achieved 20-39%
Not Graded 0-19%
Transition Year
Transition Year (TY) will become compulsory for all students in the 2025/26
academic year. It links the Junior and Senior Cycle and gives students the
opportunity to develop individual talents and skills while sampling a wide variety of
Senior Cycle subjects.
TY encourages independence and responsibility and provides our students with the
time to mature and develop resilience and confidence to face Senior Cycle, Third
ENNISCORTHY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | BROCHURE
Level and the world of work. Some of the highlights of the TY Programme include
the following:
• Four Day Trip to Killary in Galway, where students get involved in outdoor
activities and further enhance their teamwork skills.
• Students take part in the Junk Koture fashion design competition and had
great success last year, in the future hope to see more creations on the
catwalk.
• All students complete work experience module, which gives them an
understanding of the world of work and may assist them in making future
career choices.
• Significant time is spent organising the annual Transition Year show, where all
students play a part alongside staff from school.
• Students can achieve GAISCE, the President’ award.
• Educational trips to Glendalough, Young Scientist competition, local company
BD Bard and to the Garda station in Wexford.
• Students receive certification from external agencies eg First Aid and Build a
Bank.
Senior Cycle Curriculum
All students are surveyed regarding what option they would like to take at Senior
Cycle. They also receive presentations on the different subjects and programmes
on offer, so that they can make a well-informed choice. Parents/Guardians also
get a presentation from the Guidance department, so that they have a good
understanding of what is on offer at Senior Cycle for their child.
ENNISCORTHY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | BROCHURE
Traditional Leaving Certificate
All Leaving Certificate students are required to take seven examination subjects
which are offered at all levels. The only exception to this are those students that are
exempt from taking Irish.
Students take the following core subjects
• English
• Irish
• Maths
Optional Examination Subjects
Students then choose four subjects from the following list of optional subjects.
Not all subjects are offered, and it is totally dependent on demand and teaching
resources.
• Agricultural Science
• History
• Art
• Home Economics
• Biology
• Music
• Business
• Physical Education
• Construction
• Design,
Communication and
Graphics
• Engineering
• French or German
• Geography
• L.C.V.P. Leaving
Certificate Vocational
Programme *
Students also take the following non-examination subjects: Physical Education
(P.E.), Career Guidance and Computers.
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme
The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) Programme is a distinct self-contained two
year programme, aimed at preparing learners for adult and working life. It focuses on
forms of achievement and excellence, which the established leaving certificate has
not recognised in the past and prepares students to progress onto further education
and training opportunities. LCA allows students to develop a more independent and
enterprising approach to learning and life. During the two years there are regular work
experience placements, and continuous assessment during the programme is the
primary way of grading students. There are a small number of terminal examinations at
the end of Sixth Year.
ENNISCORTHY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | BROCHURE
First Year
Induction Programme
The transition from Primary to Post-Primary school can be a very stressful time for
some students and their parents. To assist with this transition ECC has an Induction
programme in place to support and reassure our new students. During the month of
May, prior to students starting at the end of August and information evening is held
for parents/guardians where they are given the opportunity to meet key personnel
in the school. Parents/Guardians are given an insight into how the school runs, and
strategies to assist with their child when it comes to starting in secondary school.
First year students are back before all other groups and their Induction programme
takes place over the first three days. This greatly assists in putting students at ease
and allows them the opportunity to make new friends.
Some of the areas covered include the following:
• Understanding your timetable.
• Using lockers and facilities.
• Importance of good organisational
skills.
• Tour of the school.
• Coping with change.
• Homework/study.
During the three days students partake in a wide range of activities such as drama,
arts and crafts, horse riding and pitch and putt to name just a few. The Induction
programme comes to and end with the sports day.
Support Structures
There are a wide range of support structures in ECC, that fall under the remit
of pastoral care for students. Pastoral
care assists with providing an orderly
environment and firm framework, which
allows all students to get maximum benefit
from their schooling. We plan this caring
approach by assigning each class a Year
head, and a Class Tutor.
The Year Head provides the administrative
support necessary to ensure that the
pastoral care structure functions effectively.
He/she co-ordinates the caring structure
by meeting subject and Class Tutors
regularly to discuss and evaluate student
progress and development. He/she meets
individual students and classes regularly and
encourages a high standard of work and
ENNISCORTHY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | BROCHURE
behaviour. Regular assemblies take place throughout the year to reinforce certain
messages, regular communication channels with home are maintained also.
The Class Tutor is important in supporting the student’s wellbeing keeping a close
on educational progress, attendance, punctuality and other critical performance
indicators. He/she motivates the class to achieve their highest possible standards.
The Principal and Deputy Principal are also there to support students through their
educational journey.
Other supports provided at ECC include:
Guidance and Counselling: The Guidance department are integral in providing
students with personal, vocational and academic guidance. The service of the
guidance counsellor is available to assist students in making career choices and also
to provide individual counselling should the need arise. The Guidance department
also provide students with information on subject options, arrange study skills
workshops, visit third level institutions and schedule guest speakers.
Home School Community Liasion (HSCL): The HSCL Coordinator works to
improve educational outcomes for students by working in partnership with parents/
guardians. These supports are provided through home visits, parents classes/courses
and offering information on other family supports available locally.
Other supports in the school include the Student Support Team, the Behaviour
for Learning Teacher, School Completion Programme and linking in with external
agencies from time to time like NEPs and Tusla.
Communication
Communication with parents/guardians is through the iclass app so it is vitally
important that this is downloaded, so as not to miss important news from the
school. Students will be given information on how to download the
app and anyone experiencing difficulties need to contact the school
office on 053 9334185.
Parents/Guardians also need to download the Vsware app as this will
allow you to view your child’s school reports and track their academic progress.
The school website www.enniscorthycommunitycollege@wwetb.ie is
also a wealth of information along with our social media platforms of
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Bills can be paid through our Way2Pay system.
ENNISCORTHY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | BROCHURE
Structure of the School Day
• Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 9:00 to 3:55pm.
• Thursday and Friday 9:00 to 2:55pm.
• All classes are one hour in duration.
• Breaks form 11:00 to 11:15am and from 1:15pm to 1:55pm.
• Students remain on-site for the duration of the day unless live 5 minutes from
school then they can get a lunch time pass.
• Canteen provision Fresh today provide breakfast and hot lunch free of charge.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
ECC has a highly qualified team of Special Education teachers and Special Needs
Assistants who work diligently to ensure that students with SEN have an optimal
learning experience. There is constant communication with students, parents and
teachers to ensure that all students maximise their learning potential in all areas.
The school has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) facility called the Boro Suite
which caters for 18 students. From time to time learning support professionals in
the school link in with outside professional to further support the students in their
care.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
In ECC there is a blended approach
to teaching and learning where the
traditional methods are further enhanced
by advancements in ICT. In first year
all students have one timetabled class
of Computers, where they are given
access to Office 365 along with an email
address. Teachers work with students to
work on their proficiency in using TEAMs,
Microsoft Word and Powerpoint. We are
very much aware that our students are
increasingly becoming more ICT literate,
and the use of technology can be a significant motivational factor in students
learning. As students become more comfortable in using all the different IT tools,
this can assist them in becoming more independent and self-directed learners. We
have students that act as Digital leaders throughout the school further enhancing
the support given by the teaching staff. While ICT is an important teaching and
learning tool, it is just one of many innovative active learning methodologies that
10
ENNISCORTHY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | BROCHURE
teachers use in the classroom.
Every year we have two students that attend Google headquarters and get training
on Internet safety and on their return to ECC they communicate this message to
the different year groups.
Student Voice
Student Council
The Student Council is a very active group that
works in conjunction with students, staff and
parents to ensure the smooth running of the
school. Student Council elections take place in
the school towards the end of September each
year. Two students from each year group are
selected to be part of the Student Council. The
Council is run by the students for the students in
conjunction with teachers and management. At
the start of each year two members of the Student Council give a brief presentation
to the Board of Management outlining their plans for the upcoming year. Each
year they are involved in charity fundraisers assisting organisations like Pieta House,
Concern and Vincent De Paul. They also have an input into any of the school
policies that impact on our students.
Meitheal Leaders
Students acting as Meitheal leaders are Senior Cycle students who are role models,
mentors and leaders for first year students. In many cases young people relate best
to their peers and may not have the confidence to go to a staff member in the first
instance. In their role they are assigned to certain classes, and they visit the class
regularly and keep a watchful eye to ensure that all first years are settling into their
new school. In instances where they have concerns, they will report to the relevant
staff.
Awards Day
Each year our Awards day takes place towards the end of May. At this event the
school showcases all the wonderful activities
that take place in the school and celebrates
student success. Academic success in the
different subject areas and state examinations
is highlighted and acknowledged. It is also an
occasion where the school recognises those
students that have excelled in sport, leadership
in the school community, excelled with their
11
ENNISCORTHY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | BROCHURE
attendance and students that have demonstrated the core values/ethos of the
school. The event concludes with the student of the year being announced. On the
same day the Sixth Year Graduation ceremony takes place where parents/guardians,
students and staff are all in attendance. They all look back with fond memories on
the journey the students have made and the excellent progress that they have
made.
School Tours
Right throughout the year there are educational trips that take
place within Ireland. Trips outside of Ireland are also arranged and
this year 45 students accompanied by teachers are travelling to the
Ethiad stadium in Manchester for a Champions league match at the
end of November. Over the May bank holiday weekend 50 students will travel to
Barcelona and will spend three nights there taking in all the sights on guided tours.
Extra-curricular activities
We are extremely proud of the wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer in
ECC. All students are encouraged to partake in activities allowing them to flourish
outside the classroom. Through engagement in these activities students get to
make new friends, further develop new interests and life skills. Below are a list of the
extra-curricular activities on offer to students in the school.
• Gaelic Football
• School Tours
• Hurling
• Enterprise Club
• Soccer
• Orchestra
• Rugby
• Debating
• Basketball
• Creative Writing
• Badminton
• Green Schools
Committee
• Chess Club
• Arts Club
• Science Club
• Polytunnel Club
• School of Sanctuary
• Student Newspaper
• Athletics
Enniscorthy Community College,
Milehouse Road,
Enniscorthy,
Wexford.
Phone: 053 9234185
Email: enniscorthycommunitycollege@wwetb.ie
Website: www.enniscorthycc.ie