TO HEYWOOD COMMUNITY SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME
Welcome to Heywood Community School!
Our mission is to provide a welcoming environment where teaching and learning nurture the personal development of every student. We place excellent value on the sense of community in our school and actively encourage a warm, friendly and supportive environment.
Our educational aims combine academic focus with a varied extracurricular program. We encourage students to do their best in whatever they do, both in and out of the classroom.
Our dedicated teaching staff demonstrate a remarkable care for their students. Their commitment ensures that all our students achieve to the best of their ability.
We strive to build individual and compassionate young people. We are committed to the holistic growth of our pupils and aim to contribute to their spiritual, intellectual, moral, mental and physical well-being and development. We also hope to prepare our students for the demands and challenges of modern society and to encourage critical awareness of matters local to them.
I hope you find the prospectus informative and interesting. We would be delighted to answer any questions you have and invite you to come and meet with us at our annual Open Night or any time that suits you best.
FOUNDATION OF HCS
Eamon Jackman Principal
MEITHEAL
LEADERS
Our Sixth Year Meitheal Leaders are trained to equip them with the skills to become mentors for our Incoming First Year students. Meitheal is a programme based on pro- respect within the school Community, and one that enables students to take responsibility for the happiness of others and for the safety and well-being of all who share our school environment. The Meitheal leaders help First Year students settle into Heywood Community School by meeting them regularly, organising bonding games and events and ensuring they feel safe and secure by providing support and encouragement.
Salesians of Don Bosco
The Brigidines
The Persentation Sisters
Laois Offaly ETB
PASTORAL CARE
Open Night in October including Parents Information Seminar.
First Year Information Booklet.
Year Yead and Assistant Year Head with link to Deputy Principal.
Each class is assigned a Class Tutor.
Pastoral Care
All our student support structures at Heywood Community School are student centered. We take a personal interest in the welfare and wellbeing of all our students by:
• Creating a caring environment that is conducive to student learning.
• Providing a safe environment where students have a voice and positive mental health.
• Providing a Pastoral Care and Discipline system that emphasises the importance of Respect and Inclusivity for all and where Confidence, Self-discipline and Integrity is encouraged.
First Year Support Structures
We have developed a comprehensive Induction Programme for Incoming First Years.
Year Heads/Assistant Year Heads.
Each Year group is assigned a Year Head and Assistant Year Head. These teachers work with class tutors and are responsible for liaising with teachers and management monitoring students overall academic progress and dealing with disciplinary and pastoral issues as they arise. The Year head has regular contact with parents and offers any appropriate support a student may need. Year heads meet with Senior Management, the Pastoral and SEN teams weekly to discuss key issues. They also oversee the ‘Checkin’ with students.
Regular contact with Meitheal Leaders.
Designated First Year Social Area and First Year Toilets.
Team Building Activities during the First Term.
First Year Taster Programme of optional Subjects.
Communication between school and home is essential to monitor each student's progress.
Year Heads, Assistant Year Heads, Class tutors, Class teachers, Learning Support Teachers, School chaplain, Guidance Counsellors, Deputy Principals and Principal are available to students and parents to assist them on their Heywood journey. Our School Chaplain works with the entire school community to listen and give guidance on a personal and spiritual level. She guides the Meitheal students with First Year Induction.
Senior Prefects
Mary Harrington, Deputy Principal Year Head to First Years
Peter Malone, Deputy Principal
Career Guidance
Career guidance and counselling is at the heart of our pastoral care system at Heywood Community School. Our guidance counselors have a caring and supportive role in the school where students can get advice and support about a range of issues, from personal issues to study skills to college advice and information.
The guidance counselors are on hand to meet with students in a confidential environment where they can be cared for and supported throughout their time in the school.
Counselling helps pupils explore their thoughts and feelings and choices open to them. It gives care and support to pupils learning to cope with the many aspects of growing up and school life within their personal circumstances. Heywood Community School endeavours to offer guidance to all our students. The guidance team liaises with year heads, class teachers, learning support teachers, subject teachers, deputy principals and the principal. They also have regular contact with parents, psychologists, employers, colleges, social services, counselors and the Department of Education.
The Career Guidance and Counseling Department within Heywood provides support for all students in the three main areas:
• Personal and social guidance
• Educational Guidance
• Career and Vocational Guidance
Communication with Parents
• Class teachers assigned at Junior Cycle are Class tutors for each class group.
• Year Head/Assistant Year Head monitoring. Year Heads communicate regularly with parents to discuss issues with Attendance, Behaviour, Academic Progress, Health and Well-being.
• Scheduled Parent teacher Meeting throughout the Year for all Year groups.
• Information Evenings are held throughout the school year such as Open Night for Incoming First Years. Transition Year/LCVP and Subject Choice, Careers and Leaving Certificate Information Evening as well as informative talks on pastoral issues such as Internet Safety and the Transition from Primary to Secondary School.
• The Principal and Deputy Principals are always available to meet parents by appointment.
• The School Chaplain, Guidance Counsellors, and SEN Co-ordinator can also be contacted by phone or an arranged appointment.
CURRICULUM
Transition From Primary to Secondary School
Here in Heywood, we endeavour to ensure that this transition is as smooth as possible. With our strong links to our feeder schools and our dedicated deputy principal attached to this process, we hope that each student has a very smooth transfer to life in Heywood.
Junior Cycle Curriculum
The school offers a comprehensive and broad curriculum which provides students with a range of subjects that meet their needs and interests while also building a solid foundation for subject selection at senior cycle and career choice in the future.
Subjects studied at Junior Cycle include:
Core Subjects
English Maths
Geography
History
Irish
Transition Year
Transition Year forms the first year of a three-year senior cycle. It is designed to act as a bridge between the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate programs. It is a highly structured program that is designed to develop academic, social and personal skills.
Students benefit from the opportunity to sample a wide range of subjects free from the pressure of state examinations. Students also have opportunities to participate in work experience, educational outcomes, volunteering and fundraising events, as well as entering a wide variety of local and national competitions.
Some of the subjects that students may experience as part of transition year are:
Debating
Legal Studies
Future is Food Media Studies
Future Leaders Mini Company
GAA Online E-portfolio
Gaisce Photography
Horticulture YSI
Junk Kouture
Senior Cycle Curriculum
The Traditional Living Certificate course consists of the three core subjects plus four optional subjects.
Optional Subjects:
Accounting Engineering
Agricultural Science Geography
Art History
Biology Home Economics
Business LC Physical Education
Chemistry
Craft and Design
Modern foreign language: French/German
Construction Studies Music
DCG Physics
Economics
The Leaving Certificate course contains an additional program known as the Leaving Certificate Vocational Program (LCVP). LCVP course is the same as the established Leaving Certificate, with the addition of two extra modules linked to the world of work and Enterprise.
The primary role of LCVP is to encourage participants to develop skills and competencies fundamental to both academic and vocational success.
AEN DEPARTMENT
The Ryan Centre
In keeping with the ethos of our school, we have a learning support team that aims to identify and support all students who have additional needs and to provide a coordinated, continuous and caring response to these needs as the student progresses through the school.
The Learning Support team liaises with parents, students and subject teachers to offer assistance. Our Learning Support department provides support to individuals, small groups, or in class support.
The Ryan Center caters for the needs of students that are on the Autism spectrum and supports their integration into mainstream education.
The Ryan Centre aims to provide access to an extended curriculum to help develop social and life skills. It employs a variety of resources and teaching strategies to meet the needs of the students. Students can also avail of the sensory room and structured lunchtime activities.
The Ryan Centre has a dedicated team of teachers and special needs assistants. These fully trained and qualified staff ensure the holistic development of the 16 students who are in their care.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM EXTRA AND CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Extracurricular activities have always been an integral part of the Heywood Community School philosophy. With the emphasis being on participation rather than competition. Every student is encouraged to become involved in at least one activity and to enjoy the many benefits afforded by partaking.
Involvement in extracurricular activity is widely recognized as contributing positively to academic achievements, in addition to increased self-esteem and confidence among students as part of a holistic education.
Heywood Community School values the contribution which extracurricular participation gives to the students understanding of commitment, accountability, responsibility and sportsmanship- all cornerstones of an all-round education.
ARTS AND CULTURE
• School Choir
• Gaisce Awards
• YSI
• Junk Kouture
• Gaeltacht Scholarships
• Debating
• School Musical
• Outings to Theatres, Third level Open Days
• Autism Awareness Week
• Health and Happiness Week
ACADEMIC
• Young Social Innovators
• BT Young Scientist
• Sci-Fest
• Green Schools
• Sceince week
• Maths Week
• Seachtain Na Gaeilge Activities
• Evening Study.
• Student Council/Student Voice
Student voice is welcomed and encouraged in our school. Students have the opportunity to vote for student leadership representatives and have the support of a liaison teacher.
The Green Schools Committee and Amber Flag committee also promote environmental and mental health issues,
respectively. Students also have the opportunity to join many leadership groups throughout their time here in the school. Our student council is very active here in the school. It meets regularly and takes the opinion from the student body. These opinions play a key part in the formation of school policy and school life.
CURRENT
FIRST YEAR STUDENT VIEWS 2025/2026
Hannah Dunne
What Primary School did you attend?
Durrow
List three favourite things about 1st year so far?
• Attending different classes.
• The Taster Programme.
• Not being in the same Classrooms. I love going to different areas in the School.
What is your favourite subject and why?
Science: I love classes in the lab, using different equipment and carrying out experiments.
How are you finding the Transition from Primary to Secondary School?
• It is a bigger School. I was afraid of getting lost but students and staff have been very helpful.
• I am making lots of new friends.
David Kenna
What Primary School did you attend?
Abbeyleix
List three favourite things about 1st year so far?
• The Longer Lunchbreaks. We can play soccer and there are some lunchtime clubs up and running.
• All the Sports that are on offer in Heywood..
What is your favourite subject and why?
Woodwork. I like doing Practical Subjects. I like trying out new subjects.
How are you finding the Transition from Primary to Secondary School?
The First week was tiring, trying to find the classrooms and getting to know new teachers. We get out early to access the lockers which has been a great help.
Sophie Ellis
What Primary School did you attend?
Cullohill
List three favourite things about 1st year so far?
• I love the independence of having my own locker.
• My new teachers and the new friends I have made.
• The School Canteen and the Friday Flapjacks!
What is your favourite subject and why?
English. My teacher explains the subject very well and She is very understanding.
How are you finding the Transition from Primary to Secondary School?
The Meitheal Prefects have been so helpful. They gave us great advice during the induction. My Tutor has been very supportive.
Cillian Hughes
What Primary School did you attend?
Ballyroan
List three favourite things about 1st year so far?
• The food in the canteen is very nice.
• Having different teachers
• P.E Class. Love having class on the Astro.
What is your favourite subject and why?
I have enjoyed all the subjects in the taster programme so far. I will find it hard to choose two in October.
How are you finding the Transition from Primary to Secondary School?
We visited Heywood last year during Open night and in June. I found this very helpful. Having our own locker and toilets is great!
SPORTS
The role of exercise and sport in a young person's life cannot be underestimated. It builds relationships, builds a healthy body and mind whilst also promoting confidence and resilience
At Heywood Community School, our sports campus, 4G Astro GAA pitch and high performance gym, not only supports our PE curriculum to Leaving Certificate level,but offers a wide range of sporting activities at lunch and after school. We challenge for honours in numerous sports throughout the year and in recent years have won All-Ireland and provincial titles in Hurling, Gaelic Football, Basketball, Camogie and Soccer.
At Heywood Community School we provide a wide range of sporting activities including:
Hurling and Camogie
Gaelic Football
Basketball
Athletics
Soccer
Rugby
Golf
Zumba Dance
Equestrian
