Sixth Year Parent Newsletter
Dear Parents/Guardians,
As your son or daughter moves through Sixth Year, this is both an exciting and sometimes overwhelming stage. Over the next few months, they will be making important decisions about exams, college, apprenticeships, and future career pathways.
This newsletter is designed to keep you informed of key dates, outline the different options available, and highlight the supports in place for your child.
Key Dates & Deadlines
- CAO Application: Opens November 5th 2025 and closes February 1st (Early closing date with discounted fee of €30 January 20th @ 5pm)
- CAO Change of Mind Closes: Opens May 6th and closes July 1st
- HPAT Registration Deadline: Not released yet but it typically closes mid- January
- PLC (Post-Leaving Cert) Applications: Usually open late November or early December
- Apprenticeship Applications: Rolling deadlines, but early application is encouraged
- College Open Days: More details below
Encourage your child to note these dates in their diary or phone calendar.
Pathway Options After the Leaving Certificate
1. University/College (CAO System)
- CAO System: Entry via points
- Options abroad: UK – UCAS (ucas.com) or Europe – Eunicas (eunicas.ie)
- Some require additional tests (e.g., HPAT, portfolio, performance element)
2. PLC (Post-Leaving Certificate Courses)
- One- to two-year courses in areas such as business, healthcare, science, and technology
- Can lead directly to employment or progression into higher education
- Further information can be found on Kerrycollege.ie
3. Apprenticeships
- Earn while you learn
- Opportunities in engineering, construction, IT, finance, and more
- Combine on-the-job training with classroom learning
- Note: It is up to the student to find an employer who is willing to take them on – this employer must be registered to take an apprentice.
- Further information can be found on apprenticeship.ie
4. Direct Employment/Gap Year
- Some students may choose to find work immediately after school or take time to decide their next step
- Career guidance support is available to help explore all options
Guidance & Support in School
- Teams
The most practical way of sharing updates , resources and reminders with students is through Microsoft Teams making it the main platform for sharing information with students throughout the year. It is very important that students have their notifications turned on and check Teams regularly to ensure they do not miss important information.
- One-to-one Appointments
I meet with all sixth-year pupils for one-to-one guidance. These appointments will start in mid-September and continue into November. As there is quite a large cohort of students, it is not possible for me meet everyone during non-exam classes, therefore it is the students’ responsibility to catch up on work.
I suggest that students try to have some research done before they come in, this allows us to be more efficient with our time. It is helpful to spend time careersportal.ie exploring what is on offer at third level. After our initial meeting they may or may not wish to return. If they do, they simply contact me through Teams, students are aware of this.
- Careersportal.ie
I find this an invaluable resource for accessing information on courses offered at third level. It is regularly updated and the information is clear and concise. For each course it offers a description of what the course entails, the entry requirements for each course, what modules will be studied every year and the career prospects after completion. I would strongly recommend that you browse through this in your spare time and become familiar with the courses on offer.
- CAO Presentations
A presentation on CAO applications will be given to each class in early November. We will also hold an information evening for parents/guardians in November – this has taken place online over the last number of years as it allows more people to attend. Once this date is confirmed we will post it on the school app. If further assistance is required when filling out the CAO form, please be sure to ask when the time comes.
Open Days
Below are dates of some of the upcoming Open Days for different third level institutes.
Whilst Open Days can give students a feel for different campuses, we encourage students to try not to limit their options because they want to go to a specific University, they should explore the courses that all third level institutes have to offer.
It is a good idea to have a little preparation done prior to going to an Open-Day. Check the websites for their timetable of events and know the times of the talks you are interested in attending.
Some universities will record talks that they give during their open day and can be accessed on their websites afterwards.
Dates:
University Galway – October 3rd and 4th
MTU Kerry – October 10th
University College Cork – October 11th
University Limerick – October 16th and 17th (A bus for all LC students will travel to UL on Oct 16th at a cost of 15E )
Mary Immaculate College – October 16th and 17th
University College Dublin – November 8th
Dublin City University – November 14th and 15th
MTU Cork – November 15th
Trinity College Dublin – November 29th
HEAR/DARE Application
HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) and DARE (Disability Access Route) are third level admissions schemes which promote equity of access to higher education for school leavers. HEAR is for students who might come from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. DARE is for school leavers with a disability or significant ongoing illness.
If you think there is even a slight chance that your child might be eligible to apply for either of these schemes, check www.accesscollege.ie to assess eligibility. You can also speak to me about it.
If you are applying for DARE there is a section that school is required to fill out so be sure to let me know your intention to apply as soon as possible.
Also, there are information evenings to assist when filling the application. These usually take place in MTU in mid to late November. There are also online information sessions for these applications in early January
It is really important that the student indicates on their CAO form that they wish to be considered for the HEAR/DARE scheme.
Note: Documentation for HEAR/DARE must be completed by March 1st
Applying for Medicine
If your child intends to apply for Medicine they are required to take the HPAT. This is an external test that is undertaken in February 2026. It is comprised of three separately timed subtests: logical reasoning and problem solving, interpersonal understanding and non-verbal reasoning. It is the students’ responsibility to register for the HPAT.
Applying to UCAS
UCAS Application
UCAS is the CAO equivalent for the UK. It is a different application process to the Irish system.
· You will find all the information on https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-to-university
· Important EARLY Application Deadline for Medicine, Veterinary medicine/science, Dentistry, all applications to University of Cambridge & University of Oxford is October 15th @ 6pm
· Closing for all other applications is January 14st @ 6pm
· This is a good clip for information on UCAS application https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwsKOBh4I8Y
· Note: You are required to write a Personal Statement, if you intend to apply to the UK you need to put genuine effort into this piece.
· When applying to UCAS you apply as an ‘individual’ as opposed to through your school.
· Please let me know if you are intending to apply through UCAS.
Accomodation in Third Level
Accommodation is completely the responsibility of the individual and is something that we have little information on. Each third level institute will have its own accomodation office and procedures, and students should contact the relevant universities directly for information and support. Any information that comes to the school, I will send it to the student via Teams.
Tips for Parents
- Listen: Encourage your child to share their ideas and concerns.
- Guide, don’t decide: Support them in exploring options without making the choice for them.
- Stay informed: Familiarise yourself with the CAO and alternative pathways.
- Wellbeing first: Sixth Year can be stressful – encourage balance between study, rest, and social time.
We are here to support both students and parents during this important year. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at
Warm regards,
Helen Pierce,
Guidance Counsellor ISK
