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Transition Year
All fourth year pupils follow the Transition Year course. Eighty percent is academic
work and the rest allows pupils to sample many areas of interest outside the Leaving
Certificate course.
These include Journalism, First Aid, Homework Club, Environmental Studies, Music
Workshops, Tourism, Cooking, Mini-Company, Computers, Art, Fund-raising, Craft &
Design, Drama, Self Awareness, Health Education, Equestrian, Elocution and numerous
trips.
During fourth year all pupils have at least two weeks work experience, one week of
which is arranged during the holiday period.
Subjects and options offered at Leaving Certificate
All pupils study Irish, English, Mathematics, French or German and Religious Education.
Pupils also select from the following:
Physics, Geography, Home Economics, Chemistry, Building Construction, Economics,
Agricultural Science, Biology, Art, Accountancy, Business, Technical Drawing, Applied
Mathematics, Engineering / Metal Work, Music and History.
English
This Department expands to take in
visits to the theatre and lectures with
occasional drama productions on the
school stage. It has its own poetry publication,‘The
Quill’.
Irish
Within the Irish Department many
pupils attend summer courses in the
Gaeltacht regions and groups have also
been to the Aran Islands and participate
in other cultural activities.
Home Economics
There are two fully equipped Home
Economics rooms supported by a
preparation area. Both boys and girls,
become skilled in cooking, nutrition
and household organisation.

Music
Both academic and practical skills are
developed in our flourishing Music
Department. Like art, music is a
timetabled subject in first year and is
available as an option in the Junior and
Leaving Certificate cycles.
Singing and a wide selection of
instruments are taught and pupils may
borrow from the school's extensive
collection of instruments when they
start.All instrumentalists are
encouraged to play in the orchestra
and/or jazz band, both of which give
performances and compete at festivals
during the year. The three choirs cover
a large repertoire and perform
regularly. As well as the experience gained in
performance, pupils also attend
concerts, recitals and workshops.
Pupils are prepared for examination
with the R.I.A.M. or a similar board.
Business
As part of the enterprise development
programme, mini-companies
(theoretical and practical experience)
are created each year for Transition Year
with emphasis on creating products
and services for sale. Inter-school
competition, regionally and nationally,
has been very successful in winning
awards for enterprise for the College in recent years.
Religious Education
Kilkenny College is one of the first
schools in the country offering RE as a
subject in both Junior and Leaving
Certificate levels.
Art
Art is a timetabled subject in first year
and then a subject of choice for the
Junior and Leaving Certificates. The
department offers a broad range of
craft as well as the fine arts.
There is an active Art Club every day
after school where pupils can work on
current projects helped by a member
of staff. Pupils are assisted with their
portfolio presentations for Art College.
This department has worked with the
Arts Council Artist-in-Residence scheme
with which it has produced an
animation film and a portrait exhibition
which won national acclaim. Pupils
have also had national success in the
Form and Fusion competition gaining a
first and a second prize from among
3,000 entries.
Technology
Projects created each year in the
woodwork, construction, engineering
and metalwork departments are
displayed on open days and are entered
in the examination process each year.
Classroom Facilities
Along with its main general classroom
complex, the school contains five fully
equipped Science Laboratories. It also
has an ultra-modern, fully-equipped
Computer Room while all classrooms
are equipped with computer access. There are two Home Economics Rooms
and two Language Laboratories.
The Library and Media Room features a
video conferencing facility along with a
comprehensive reference and
computer section.
The current development plan includes
new classrooms, prep facilities for all
pupils and improved science labs.

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