Education in Ireland?

Question

How is the Irish education similar to the USA? How is it different? anything would be helpful

Answer 1

kk....primary school, u start in junior infants wen u r 5, then u go in2 senior infants, then 1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class.....all de way up 2 sixth class. then u start secondary school. u start in 1st year and u finish in 6th year. u do 2 state exams, one at the end of 3rd year (the junior cert) and one at the end of 6th year (leaving cert). we have 7 base classes and then we can pick up to 3 optional subjects. these base classes are irish, english, maths, geog, history, cspe (civic, social and political education...i think), and pe. science can be a base class but is usually optional. optional subjects are things like french, spanish, german, art, home ec and music. single s*x schools are very common in ireland although there are mixed schools. schools are split into private and public schools. uniforms are generally compulsery. is that ok?? hope i helped....

Answer 2

The ages are roughly the same - we start primary school at 4 or 5, and finish secondary school around 17/18.  The big difference is that all schools follow a curriculum from the Department of Education - it doesn't matter what county you're in, you learn the same content.  It's up to individual teachers to decide how to teach it though.  I know in America the content can vary from county to county and state to state, so that would be one of the major differences.  

We start the school day roughly around 9, and finish anytime from 2 -3pm for primary, and around 4 for secondary.  There is much less testing at primary level, official standardised tests are only done every few years, and then it's only to see which kids need extra help, not to judge the school on.

In secondary school you do the Junior Certificate exams in 3rd year, and the Leaving Certificate exams in final year.  to get into university/college you have to apply for a selection of courses.  There are a set number of points for each course, (you get a certain number of points per grade for each leaving cert subject - eg an A1 is 100 points, a B1 is 85 etc).

There are very few private schools in Ireland, most people go to normal schools here, which are free.  Families do have to pay for things like books, uniforms etc but there are grants available for people who need them.  Third level education is also free (except for yearly capitation fees etc which do come to a few thousand.  Big difference from the fees in the US though, thank god!)

Answer 3

in N.ireland:

Play school - 3-4 years of age

primary school- 4-11 years of age

In Primary 7 the pupils are tested with the 11+ test but it is soon to be taken off the ciriculum.

High School/grammar school- 12-18 (1st year/year 8 - 7th year/year 14)

in 3rd year pupils are tested with key stage 3, maths english and science.

in 5th year pupils have GCSE's in all subjects studied.

pupils can either leave their education and go straight out to work, stay in school and do A-levels or go to college. However, the choice is restricted by what grades you get in GCSE's.

Answer 4

What do you mean exactly?  What kind of information do you need?

In Ireland you attend Primary school from the ages of 5 to 12, from the age of 12/13 you attend secondary school and around the age of 17/18 you leave and either go to College/University or get a job.  

In secondary school, it's graded First Year to Sixth Year.  At the end of 3rd year you sit state exams called the Junior Certificate (Irish, English & Maths are compulsory).  Some schools have a 4th Year, or a transition year but in most you go straight into 5th Year and at the end of 6th Year you sit the Leaving Certificate (6 subjects or more - Irish, English & Maths are compulsory but you can choose the other 3.  Students usually choose 4)