Loreto Kilkenny believes in, and is committed to, an educational policy that develops the full potential of each of its students. A high priority is given to academic excellence and State examination results reflect the efforts made by all concerned.

Loreto Secondary School offers:

• Junior Certificate
• Leaving Certificate

• Leaving Certificate Applied

Loreto Kilkenny offers a wide range of subjects as well as offering excellent optional programmes.

• Transition Year Programme
• Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP)

Subjects

Where students at Junior and Senior level select optional subjects they are allowed an open choice. The final arrangement of subject groupings for scheduling on the time table is based on their choice.

Junior Certificate Subjects

First Year the subjects are

Art, Business Studies, Civic Social Political Education (CSPE), English, French , Geography, German , Home Economics, Irish, Maths, Music & Science.

Other subjects provided at non-examination level are:

Choir,PE, Religion, Social Personal Health Education (SPHE)

In second and third year the number of subjects studied is reduced. Students must choose one continental language and any two of the following subjects:

Art, Business Studies, French, German, Home Economics, Music.

SUBJECTS FOR LEAVING CERTIFICATE

All students take Irish, English and Maths for examination together with classes in Religious Education, Guidance, Computers (IT), PE. SPHE is offered in Fifth year only.

They may then choose four of the following optional subjects:

Art, Accounting, History, Biology, French, Music, Business Studies, Geography, Chemistry, German, Home Economic, Economics & Physics.

All examination subjects are offered at higher and ordinary level

Our First Year classes are formed on the basis of mixed-ability.  We operate a taster system which allows students to take all of our Junior Certificate subjects for the full year.

In First Year, the subjects taken by all students are:

Art, Business Studies, Civic Social Political Education (CSPE), English, French , Geography, German, History, Home Economics, Irish, Maths, Music, Religious Education  & Science.

In addition, students take the following non-examination subjects which are a vital part of our programme.  These subjects are taken up to Third Year:

Choir (optional after First Year),Physical Education (PE), Social Personal Health Education (SPHE)

In the Spring of First Year, students choose three optional subjects, with which they will continue in Second Year, from the following:

Art, Business Studies, French, German, Home Economics, Music.

Students must select at least one continental language, and may choose both.  The school uses the world`s leading computer software to ensure that the maximum possible students get their preferences.

Students also continue with their programme of core subjects:

Examination: Irish, English, Mathematics, Civic Social Political Education (CSPE),Geography, History, Music, Science.

Non-examination: Choir (optional), Religious Education, Physical Education (PE), Social Personal & Health Education (SPHE).

The mixed-ability classes are maintained with the exception of Irish and Mathematics in which Higher and Ordinary Level classes are formed on the basis of Summer Examination results.