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Guidance

Our Guidance Counsellor is Mr Brian Kearney and can be contacted via guidance@bgsmail.ie

As Guidance information updates so often, you can find further information on our Guidance website

Both Guidance Counselling and Guidance and Counselling refer to a range of learning experiences designed to assist students in making choices about their lives and in making transitions at different stages of their lives. These choices may be categorised into three distinct – but interlinked – areas:

Personal and Social
Educational
Vocational

Guidance Activities: A Taster

Personal Counselling
Assessment using Psychometric Instruments and Inventories
Career Information (Classroom, BGS Careers Fairs with some photos below, attendance at Career events)
Use of Information Technology (BGS Guidance Website, Careers Portal, Qualifax etc)
Peer to Peer Guidance: Older students are given the opportunity to detail their own experiences to younger students throughout the year

Whole-School Guidance Approach

The whole-school is involved in supporting all of our students in assisting students in making choices about their lives and in making transitions at different stages of their lives through Whole-School Guidance

Personal and Social
Educational
Vocational

Peer Guidance

Peer Guidance is a key element of our approach to Guidance in BGS with older students guiding younger students such as:

4th Years advise 2nd years on the transition from 1st year to 2nd year and 3rd years on the challenges of the Junior Cert
5th years mentor 1st years on a monthly basis
5th and 6th years mentors 4th years on their subjects choices for the LC and advise on the challenges of 5th year

Guidance Calendar of Events

Guidance Events and News are listed and updated here

Personal Guidance

Personal guidance is a key part of the school guidance programme. It encompasses relatively brief interventions with students either on an individual or group basis. Personal guidance may include personal counselling, educational counselling, career counselling or a combination of these.

Counselling is available on a referral basis. The Guidance Counsellor works closely with our Chaplain as well as teams such as our Pastoral Care, Boarding and Special Educational Needs teams.Students are referred by management, staff, parents, or they may self- refer. During and after counselling the guidance counsellor will consult with teachers and other relevant and concerned parties on a regular basis to monitor progress, to discuss how pupils are coping and to plan for further support.

Publicising to the students and at parents’ meetings the role of the guidance counsellor and the counsellor’s availability to individual students for consultation at any time, within the framework of guidance hours available, is a key task
Students and parents are free to request a consultation with the counsellor
The counsellor also initiates consultations with pupils, teachers and parents when particular circumstances arise indicating that a pupil may be in need ofcounselling on a personal issue, which impinges on their school life
The counsellor is consulted by school management and pastoral care personnel on such issues
Every student in fifth and sixth year is afforded the opportunity to meet the guidance counsellor on personal and career related matters. Students in first, second third and fourth year are seen by the guidance counselor on a request or referral basis
Where and when possible small groups of students may be seen together if they have a common interest, for example a number of students wishing to pursue a specific career or course such as nursing.

Career Guidance

The Guidance Counsellor supports First Years to assist them choosing their subjects for the Junior Certificate. The guidance counsellor does the same with Fourth Year students prior to them choosing their subjects for the Leaving Cert.
Presentations are made to parents on the issue of subject choice and options. There is an inforomation evening for First Year parents, Third Year parents, and for Fourth Year parents. A presentation is also delivered to parents of Leaving Cert detailing post Leaving Cert options
Fourth year classes receive one Career Guidance class per week
Fifth and Sixth Year students receive on a rotational basis throughout the year
Follow up meetings and telephone conversations concerning career issues also take place between the guidance counsellor, students and parents as required
The guidance counsellor advises and assists students on the completion of UCAS applications to the British third level system
Links are sustained with local industries, most notably Eli Lilly, for the apprenticeship scheme
The guidance counsellor also manages the administration of the CAT (Cognitive Ability Test) to incoming first years
Organises trips out (UCC and MTU TY Open Days, UL/ LIT/ Mary I Open Days, PLC Open Days, organise speakers in to school, organise cohorts of students to attend various career events, eg. Prep for Med Day, Law Experience Day, etc.)

Educational Guidance

The ways in which the guidance counsellor fulfils this role include:

Liaising with the Principal and Year Heads concerning pupils who require intervention
Offering those pupils who require intervention educational counselling with regard to study techniques, educational planning and personal organisation if they do not have support through our SEN
Liaising with Year Heads on the delivery of study skills seminars to various student groups
Monitoring and being aware of the delivery of study techniques courses within the Social, Personal and Health Education Curriculum
Providing guidance and information to students and parents at appropriate stages in their progress through meetings
Being available to pupils who have left the school to offer advice after the Leaving Certificate results have been issued, that is at the beginning of the new school year
Liaise with Special Needs and Learning Support departments to identity students requiring further attention.