Q. What's the starting time?
A. 9.30am, although students may select classes that start at 8:30am. Students must be in school by 9:30am at the latest.
Q. What's the length of a school day?
A. Depends on the number of subjects taken, but students must be in the building between the hours of 9.30am - 3.30pm.
Q. What study facilities do you have?
A. We have supervised study between the following hours: Monday - Friday 8.00am - 8.00pm
Saturday 9.00am - 2.00pm Sunday 1.00pm - 6.00pm
Q. Do you have to study during the day at free periods?
A. Yes. Except for an hour at lunchtime, students are required to be in study for all other free periods. Study is compulsory!
Q. I'm coming in directly from 5th year. Will what I learned in 5th year be covered or revised?
A. Yes - we effectively cover 2 years in 1 year.
Q. I am repeating my Leaving Certificate. Do I have to repeat the subjects which are special requirements and in which I obtained the necessary grades?
A. No - you do not need to re-sit certain subjects if you obtained the minimum requirements for your desired course. Please check with the for further details.
Q. Are practicals available?
A. Yes - we have a and have practicals in Chemistry, Physics,
Home Economics and Biology.
Q. What discipline or monitoring is in place?
A. Students must be in school between the hours of 9.30am-3.30am, they must sign in every day on arrival and their attendance at study is also taken. Parents are contacted if students are not in attendance and the school was not notified of their absence.
Q. What Career Guidance Services are available?
A. We have two careers guidance counsellors for the 6th Year Day School.
Q. What lunch facilities do you have?
A. We have a canteen which provides soups, sandwiches and snacks. There is also a lunchroom which is available for those who bring in packed lunches. There are dispensing machines for snacks throughout the school.
Q. Is there continuous assessment i.e. class tests?
A. Yes - in all classes. There is also written homework.
Q. When are the mocks held and where?
A. Mocks are held in February and are taken in The Institute of Education.
Q. What's a typical class size?
A. Each student chooses their own timetable and there is a wide choice of classes, so class sizes vary. Classes are lecture style and students get superb notes, so class size is not an issue. What makes the difference are the teachers and no school can equal the team of teachers we have at The Institute.
Q. How good are the teachers?
A. Excellent. We have gifted teachers, many of whom are authors of school books, correct exam papers and contribute articles to the Irish Times Exam Times supplement. The notes provided by the teachers are legendary and so good that many students retain them for third level.
Q. Do you provide information on accommodation?
A. Yes, we provide information on accommodation but do not organise it.