Pathways to consider outside of CAO
There have never been so many ways for students to realise their potential on leaving secondary school. While much focus remains on Leaving Cert results and CAO points, there is a growing number of options open outside of the CAO system. These pathways provide education training options across multiple sectors, suit a variety of learners and provide progression routes onto further qualifications or directly into the workplace. And a key feature of such pathways is that entry is not based on CAO points and applications remain open at this stage!
The Further Education and Training (FET) sector provides a variety of options and pathways across multiple career sectors which include Post Leaving Cert (PLC) courses, Tertiary Programmes (new for 2023) as well as apprenticeships and traineeships.
Post Leaving Certificate Courses
Colleges of Further Education (FE) are still accepting applications for courses in a huge variety of subject areas including business, ICT, social care, childcare, law, beauty therapy, art and design, applied science, healthcare, law, engineering, multimedia, sport and much more. These courses provide students with skills to go directly into the workplace and QQI FET/FETAC qualifications which allow them to progress onto colleges and universities here in Ireland, the UK and Europe. To check out the full range of PLC courses available and to apply, check out www.fetchcourses.ie . For those who are interested in progression routes onto Higher Education in Ireland, take a look at QQI-FET Applicant section of www.cao.ie . Individual FE college websites also have lots of information available on entry requirements, course content and career options.
Tertiary Education Programmes
A brand new pathway to completing a degree is available to students from September 2023 through the Tertiary Education Programmes. This exciting new option allows students to start their degree in a FE college or local Education & Training Board (ETB) and after one or two years transfer to a partner Higher Education Institution (University) to complete the degree. Currently there are 23 courses on offer nationwide. For further details on courses, entry requirements and to apply see - https://nto.hea.ie
Apprenticeships
The number and variety of apprenticeships has been growing steadily in recent years and there are currently 69 different apprenticeships available across a huge variety of sectors including construction, arboriculture, electrical, biopharma, ICT, finance, insurance, logistics & supply chain, sales, agriculture, hairdressing, engineering, hospitality, healthcare, mechanics, auctioneering and recruitment. There are 20 more apprenticeships in development and apprentices are also paid while training, so they are earning while learning. For more details see www.apprenticehip.ie
Traineeships
Traineeships are a very attractive option for students who are in interested in work-based training in areas where there is an identified skills need and combine learning in the classroom and experience in the workplace to improve employment outcomes for participants. There are over 75 traineeships available nationally across a variety of industries including business, health and social care, constructions, engineering, transport and logistics, finance, hospitality, fashion and beauty, ICT and more. Traineeships start at various times during the year. More details can be found on https://www.solas.ie/programmes/traineeship/ also from the local Education and Training Boards (ETBs).
National Learning Network
The National Learning Network (NLN) offers specialist training, courses and support services for students and adults who need extra support to progress in their education or into the workplace. This includes young people students who may not want to, or be equipped to, access traditional post-school pathways. A key aspect of the NLN is a welcoming and supportive environment, small class sizes and the flexibility for students to learn a pace which suits their needs. More information can be found on www.nln.ie
Direct Entry Courses
There are over 200 direct entry courses to various college across Ireland in a variety of areas of study and duration. These can be researched by using the Course Finder facility on www.careersportal.ie and www.qualifax.ie . These include some private colleges.
Study outside of Ireland
There are still opportunities to apply for colleges in the UK and Europe. The UCAS Clearing system is open until October 17th which allows students to apply for vacant college places in the UK. See www.ucas.com for details. Applications are still open for some colleges and universities in Europe, where entry requirements are often lower than similar options here in Ireland. See www.eunicas.ie and www.medicalpoland.ie for more details.
With so many education and training options available to students on leaving school, it really does mean that there are lots of opportunities for young people to realise their potential by finding the career sector or area that interests them most and the pathway that best suits how they learn. Exploring all options is key to making the right decision for the next step!