Why Choose Presentation Secondary School Castleisland?

Academic Success

One of the core values of being a CEIST school is achieving quality in teaching and learning. At Presentation Castleisland, we encourage and nurture the academic success of all our students, helping them to reach their full potential and create opportunities for fulfilling and rewarding roles in life after secondary school. The Leaving Certificate results each year testify to the quality of the education received at our school.

58% of the Leaving Cert Class of 2023 achieved 400 points or greater, with 18% achieving greater than 500 points and 5% achieving 600 points or more.

We are particularly proud of our Leaving Cert Students in recent years:

  • In 2023, Fiona Brosnan achieved top marks of 625 points in the Leaving Cert and was awarded an Ad Astra Scholarship by University College Dublin (1 of only 16 students in the country). Fiona is now studying Social Sciences in UCD.
  • In 2023, Ciara Cronin achieved 613 points in the Leaving Cert and is now studying Pharmacy in UCC.
  • In 2022, Laura Walsh achieved 601 points in the Leaving Cert and was awarded an academic scholarship in respect of her high achievement in Irish. Laura is studying Primary Teaching in Mary Immaculate College.
  • In 2021, Siobhán Brosnan, achieved 625 points. Siobhan is studying Philosophy, Political Science, Economics and Sociology in Trinity College.
  • In 2021, Laura Manley achieved 601 points. Laura is studying Occupational Therapy in UCC.
  • In 2020, Eibhlís Brosnan achieved 625 points and was awarded a Quercus Entrance Scholarship in UCC. Eibhlís is studying Commerce and Hispanic Studies.
  • In 2019, Mary Healy received the highest mark in Ireland in Geography and was awarded the Gwenda Hurst Medal by the Association of Geography Teachers of Ireland.

 

Support provided to you and your daughter

The transition to secondary school is a significant moment in the life of a child. We set out below how our school will support you and your daughter, both before and during the transition.

Support provided before your daughter starts in our school:

  • Open Day Event to introduce you to our management, teachers, facilities and other students
  • School staff connect with primary schools
  • Individual tours provided throughout the year by appointment
  • You will be contacted regularly by the school with information and updates
  • Contact between the Special Educational Needs Coordinator and each primary school to ensure all educational needs are addressed and supported
  • Induction Day for sixth class students
  • Welcome Evening for Parents/Guardians
  • Parents and guardians are offered individual meetings with management in August to discuss any concerns or issues before school begins
  • Requests taken for your daughter to be in the same class as friends from primary school

Support provided once your daughter is in First Year:

  • Year Head and class tutors with specific responsibility for first year student welfare and wellbeing. Regular assemblies with Year Head throughout the year
  • Mentoring programme delivered by trained Senior Cycle Mentors
  • First year students will have a half day on Day 1 with their senior mentors to help settle into our school
  • No textbooks to be bought – all books are provided as part of our book rental scheme. All books will be ready and waiting for your daughter on their first day of school
  • Assigned a locker for the year, with your daughter’s name on it
  • Assigned a shelving area beside the lockers to place bags, jackets etc
  • Assigned the canteen as a base room for break and lunch times for all first years to mix and get to know each other
  • Hot meals available at low cost in the school canteen
  • First Years allowed out 5 minutes early at lunchtimes and end of day to access lockers, canteen and buses
  • ‘FUSE’ – Anti-Bullying Programme
  • First Year induction programme ‘You Are Here’
  • A variety of team building activities to promote a sense of belonging to our school
  • Wellbeing workshops for students at critical times during their first year
  • Taster of all option subjects until Christmas of first year
  • Parents / Guardians’ Information Evening
  • Individual student supports and parental meetings as required
  • Welcome Ceremony to celebrate your daughter’s transition to our school
  • Information talks for parents on a variety of topics e.g., how to support your daughter during the transition period
  • Study skills workshop to develop good study habits at an early stage
  • A wide variety of lunchtime and after school activities
  • Wellbeing Room, Wellbeing Garden and Wellbeing Padlet
  • After school study
  • Theme weeks throughout the year to encourage participation e.g., Wellbeing Week, Science Week, Maths Week
  • A celebration of achievements at the school’s Awards Night.

First Year Experience


Unique Offerings from Presentation Castleisland

Take a look!

 

Past Students Reflect

Fiona Brosnan

My name is Fiona Brosnan. I feel very fortunate for the countless opportunities available to me as a Presentation student. In first year, Mr Dargan helped us to win the national Enterprise title with the Complete Camán group. The same year, our Under-14 basketball team won the National Cup in the National Basketball Arena. In second year, we had the opportunity to visit Google’s European Headquarters in Dublin as part of the Digital Champions initiative. In Transition Year, I was able to attend a UNICEF training programme, SciFest, ActionTalks and countless workshops. We were also encouraged to take part in GAISCE, which allowed us to volunteer in our local community. I was given the chance to visit Serbia as an Irish representative of the European Youth Parliament in fifth year. The school supported every endeavour I wanted to try and opened up so many doors for me. I recently have been accepted into the Ad Astra academy in UCD as a scholar. I was told that they were looking for someone who showed that they could be part of a community, and I think that is testament to the community we were all part of in Pres Castleisland. The friendships I made, and the support I received from teachers, have been invaluable to me and I definitely would recommend Presentation Castleisland to future students. I was very lucky to be a Pres girl.
 

Eibhlís Brosnan

My name is Eibhlís Brosnan and I completed my Leaving Certificate in 2020 in Presentation Secondary School Castleisland and achieved 625 points.

The six years I spent in the school were some of the happiest of my life. I cannot emphasise how much the school fostered and encouraged my personal and academic development, as well as that of all the other students.

The school is a fantastic place to learn. The teachers are supportive and committed to providing a stimulating learning environment. This is reflected in the consistent high results achieved in Pres Castleisland.

There is also a broad range of extracurricular options in our school. The basketball and football teams both have achieved remarkable success – the school has over 20 basketball All-Ireland titles. I myself was a member of the choir and the trad society, which worked together to release a CD last year. There are myriad other choices too – from chess to debating to enterprise, there is a club for everyone at Pres Castleisland.

Nonetheless, the best thing about Pres Castleisland is the atmosphere. Everyone knows everyone, and each teacher is fully aware of their students’ strengths and potentials. The health and wellbeing of students is prioritised, and there are frequent workshops and seminars held to promote the importance of self-care. Any student enduring a difficult patch in their lives can unquestionably find support from both their peers and the staff. This is really the standout feature of Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland. I feel fully equipped to face the challenges that third level holds because my secondary school education was second to none, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.