Senior Portal: Your Guide to Future Options

Welcome to the Senior Portal! This site is your central hub for understanding your options after secondary school. To get started, let's break down the main pathways:

• Considering collge in the Republic of Ireland? The CAO (Central Applications Office) is the system you'll use to apply.

• Thinking about college in Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom? You'll need to become familiar with the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

• Interested in hands-on training for a specific trade? Explore the Apprenticeships section to learn about paid on-the-job training opportunities.

• Looking for further education and training outside of traditional universities? PLCs (Post Leaving Certificate courses) offer a wide range of vocational and academic programmes.

• Worried about the cost of further education? The sections on Grants, DARE (Disability Access Route to Education), and HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) provide information on financial support and access schemes.

Don't feel pressured to decide everything right away. Use this portal to explore the different routes, understand the basic application processes involved, and then delve deeper into the options that seem most relevant to you. Remember, your Guidance Counsellors are here to help you navigate this information and answer any questions you have along the way.