Introduction

St Vincent’s Castleknock College aims to achieve a high academic standard in its students and to that end the teacher / pupil ratio is 1:14. The gifts and talents of the students are sensitively assessed in order to enable them to realise their potential and the college expects them to commit themselves to academic achievement appropriate to their abilities. The widest possible range of subjects is provided from which they may choose, with any required guidance, those which best satisfy their interests, needs and aspirations. St Vincent’s Castleknock College wrote the book on educating students, literally, as it has seven authors of student textbooks on the staff.

The Junior Cycle subjects are: Irish, English, Mathematics, History, Geography, Science, SPHE (Social, Personal and Health Education), CSPE (Civic, Social and Political Education), Art, Music, French, Spanish, German, Classical studies, Technical graphics and Business studies. The college also provides religious education, computer education, and physical education.

All students do a transition year (4th year) and the subjects are the same as for Leaving Certificate with extra activities including fencing, swimming, martial arts, first aid, driver awareness, media studies, public speaking, photography, cooking, environmental studies, enterprise and computer studies. In addition students can get involved in teaching computers to the local active retirement group.

For the Leaving Certificate the subjects are Irish, English, Mathematics, History, Geography, Art, Music, French, Spanish, German, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Agricultural science, Applied mathematics, Business, Economics, Accounting, Religion and DCG (Design and Communication Graphics). Classes are also provided in religious and physical education.