LCM gUIDANCE

This area of Guidance recognises students’ different learning abilities and their inherent talents. Each student is encouraged to optimise their learning skills to fulfil their potential. The Guidance Team in Loreto College Mullingar have developed a programme of seminars and workshops to optimise students' understanding of key decisions and encourage self-management of their educational pathway. This involves:

1. Helping students with key choices in regards to their subjects, courses and levels through 1:1 appointments and assembly based information sessions. 

2. Aiding motivation and management of learning with a whole school and collaborative approach.

3. Demonstrating and modelling the use of available resources, study skills and exam techniques and facilitating student self-management in this regard.

4. Working with key agencies and stakeholders to ensure students and staff are aware of best practice and current trends in educational guidance. The Guidance Team in Loreto College Mullingar strive to ensure the whole school model of guidance provision is adopted at every opportunity, this goal is further pursued through our strong links with the local community and businesses.

This area of guidance aims to empower students to make decisions, solve problems, change behaviours and resolve issues in their lives with confidence and encourages self-advocacy.  It is without doubt that throughout the time a student spends in our school she will face challenges and encounter the ebbs and troughs that can oftentimes characterise a full and vibrant life. It is a core aim of the Guidance Team to both model and instil coping methodologies and skills so that students may come to manage the myriad of life experiences they will encounter long after their time in Loreto College Mullingar has past. Whole school and community guidance is at the heart of all personal and social guidance in our school. Immersive experiences and modelled behaviours are powerful teaching techniques and are supplemented through our school's wellbeing programme, 1:1 guidance appointments, groups sessions and workshops and our strong network of support agencies and personnel. Loreto College Mullingar has developed an evolving programme of recognised programmes for use in or school. Each programme is carefully selected to ensure it is of the highest quality and evidence based to ensure we meet the needs of our student cohort. Programmes such as Get Up! Stand Up! My Friends Youth, Decider Skills, Wellness Action Planning and Mind Out are currently embedded into our curriculum.

This area of Guidance helps students to identify career and vocational goals by developing their self-analysis skills and sourcing and managing career information. In Loreto College Mullingar we strive to ensure the needs and ambitions of all students are addressed and catered for. Tours to further and higher education institutions, guest speakers and a rich vocational curriculum across a broad subject offering combine to provide an immersive vocational guidance experience. This involves some of the following activities:

1. Having a full understanding of the education system and pathways into further and higher education, apprentice opportunities and employment.

2. Making and carrying out appropriate life choices and plans. 

3. Practising interview techniques, presentation skills, CV writing and cover letters.

4. Identifying strengths and weakness from the results of various interest and aptitude psychometric instruments.

Loreto College Mullingar follow a Whole School Guidance Approach and endeavour to ensure highly effective guidance practices are embedded into our daily activities. Classroom based guidance lessons and the Reach Plus programme of vocational guidance are key instruments in our vocational guidance delivery.