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'All inclusive' English Summer Camps

'All inclusive' English summer camps for teenagers aged 13-18 years in Kilkenny: "Learn English & Experience Ireland!"

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High School Programme in Ireland

Academic school stays for international students in secondary schools in Ireland with residential and/or home-stay accommodation.

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General Information on the Irish High School System

The Irish High School system is divided into two cycles:

  • Junior Cycle which lasts for 3 years (for students from age 12)
  • Senior Cycle which lasts for a further 3 years (for students from age 15) 
The Junior Cycle is non-specialised and students usually take between 9 and 13 subjects per school year. At the end of this three-year cycle the Junior Cycle finishes with a State Examination called the Junior Certificate.
 
The first year of the Senior Cycle is called Transition Year (TY). It is a combination of academic, vocational and personal/social development.
 
TY is designed to give students, usually aged 15-16 years, the tools necessary to make informed choices about their future study and possible university or other Third Level choices.
 
The final two years of the Senior Cycle constitute a two-year study program which leads to another State Examination called the Leaving Certificate. This examination is both, an exit exam from school and a university entrance exam.
 
The curriculum for both cycles - Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle - is set down by the Irish Department of Education as follows:
 
Students in their school uniform
Junior Cycle (aged 12-15 years) leading to 'Junior Certificate'
  • English, French, German, Spanish, Italian
  • Classical Studies, Music
  • Mathematics
  • History, Geography
  • Business Studies Science, Technology, Home Economics
  • Technical Graphics, Metalwork, Materials Technology(Wood)
  • Typewriting
  • Art, Craft & Design
  • Environment & Social Studies, Social Personal & Health Education
  • Civic, Social & Political Education
  • Religious Education
Senior Cycle (aged 15-18 years) leading to 'Leaving Certificate'
  • English, French, German, Spanish, Italian
  • Classical Studies
  • History, Geography
  • Mathematics, Applied Mathematics
  • Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Physics & Chemistry
  • Agricultural Economics, Engineering
  • Design & Communication, Graphics, Construction Studies
  • Accounting, Economics, Business Home Economics
  • Art, Music 
  • Religious Education

Please note that no school offers the complete range of subject and the usual number of subjects offered per high school is approx. 16 subjects.

Sample Transition modules include: Debating, Public Speaking, Enterprise, Work Experience and a wide variety of additional modules which vary depending on the specific school.

Student in front of his boys-only high school

Contact mackdonald

Contact mackdonald

Register for a course

 

Register for a course

Feedback of participants

Thank you for a fantastic stay in Ireland!

I just want to say thank you for everything. I had such a GREAT time in Kilkenny, because the family I lived with was so extremely nice and everyone in school too! This summer was for sure one of the best ones of my life!

Your trips and activities were so well organized, I already recommended you... :D 

Anna 

Great programme!

Just a little note to let you know that my son Benjamin greatly enjoyed his stay in Ireland, he felt he was treated like a king by the host family - he really had only good things to say. 

Such a great experience and I think he will want to return to you to keep improving his English! 

Ben's Dad

Read more testimonials here...

The Parade in Kilkenny
mackdonald English books
Students at break time
Girls under umbrella
View of the castle in Kilkenny
Attraction in Kilkenny City
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