Rising to the challenge

Founder and principal of Yeats College Terry Fahy reflects on the importance of good preparation for the Leaving Cert to set students up for a fulfilling life ahead

Ihave always believed that the best schools are consciously designed to nurture a powerful desire for lifelong learning and discovery, to enable ambition as well as help to inspire their students with ideas. I believe that Yeats College is such a place.

I would like to welcome you to Part 1 of the Irish Independent

Exam Brief series for 2018. As a Leaving or Junior Cert student, you will benefit from the insights in this guide. It contains tips and advice from experienced Yeats College staff. It is also designed to help parents to provide the best support to their children during the months ahead.

Right now as a student, you will be gearing up to complete a pivotal examination, which will shape your future. Completing the Leaving Cert is a key transitional moment as it guides, and has the potential to define, your future role in life. It certainly is an endurance test, but one that should be embraced. As with any apparently formidable challenge, once tackled constructively, it is much easier to overcome.

This exam is different. It will challenge you on so many levels: a desire to succeed must be matched with curiosity and a determination to dive deeper into your subjects.

This is a test of your focus, and your ability to plan, formulate, and study with a maturity that is character building as well as rewarding – rewarding because throughout the journey to June, it’s possible to have many exhilarating moments and to complete the exam with a deep sense of satisfaction. This has certainly been my experience of students over my 24 years in Yeats College.

Yeats College is, first and foremost, a school with a rigorous academic programme. Our results speak for themselves: more than 90% of our students go on to do their programme of choice in colleges and universities. More than 13% of our graduates last year achieved over 570 points.

Yeats College has a rich legacy of teaching vibrant, curious students, who come from a broad range of backgrounds and display many different abilities and interests. The campuses in Galway and Waterford share the unique DNA of an inspirational teaching staff with a deep respect for educational endeavour.

At Yeats College, we offer one of the best senior cycle school experiences available in Ireland, providing unique opportunities for personal growth and learning. If you visit us, interact with our students, meet our teachers, talk with our alumni and read our materials, you will reach the same conclusion.

The college is an exceptional place of learning, where staff are committed to educating and developing young people. They respect and value students’ potential and understand their role as citizens on the global stage.

At Yeats College, our small size is a huge asset. It offers us flexibility in developing and delivering a rich, creative programme that addresses the academic, social and sporting needs of our student body.

We are a community of focused, enthusiastic students and exceptional teachers and educators that embrace a passion to succeed.

The college is delighted to be involved with the Irish

Independent in developing this educational resource. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the teaching staff in Galway and John Heffernan, principal of Yeats College Waterford and his staff for their professionalism and commitment in making Yeats College a unique and successful learning environment. I also wish to pay tribute to the Irish Independent team and, in particular, editor Sorcha Corcoran for making this project exciting and most enjoyable.

I am confident students and parents will find these supplements an effective aid to preparing for the exams in June.

Best of luck to you all and wishing you every success in your future.

❝This exam is different. It will challenge you on so many levels: a desire to succeed must be matched with curiosity and a determination to dive deeper into your subjects❞

Terry Fahy

Founder and principal Yeats College