I've Had Enough, I'm Outta Here!
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I’VE HAD ENOUGH, I’M OUTTA HERE! Thinking of leaving school early? A guide for young people in the Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown Area About this booklet Dun Laoghaire Youth Information Centre and Youth Choices are delighted to introduce the first edition of ‘ I’ve had enough, I’m outta here ’. This booklet is aimed at young people who may be having difficulties at school and are thinking of leaving early or may have already left. The booklet brings together a list of support services that are there to help, providing information on alternative education, training and employment options. Acknowledgements This booklet could not have been published without the willing participation and constructive feedback of many people and we would like to extend our thanks to all concerned. In particular we would like to thank the participants of the Alternative Learning Pathways Project. We extend our gratitude to the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Local Drugs Task Force and Southside Partnership whose financial assistance made this publication possible. A special word of thanks to Charlene Doyle, Youth Information Officer, for her innovation, creativity and patience during the design of this booklet. While every attempt was made to ensure that the information was accurate before going to print, we accept no responsibility for errors or omissions. If your organisation has not been listed and you wish to be included in subsequent editions, please contact us. © 2008 Throughout this booklet you will find phone numbers of support services who can help you. If you don’t feel comfortable ringing yourself, ask someone else (e.g. parent, teacher, youth worker, friend) to ring and find out the information for you! CONTENTS BEFORE YOU LEAVE SCHOOL Things to Consider 3 Telling your Parents 4 The Legal Bit! 5 Trouble at School—Specific Problems 6 Supports @ School 9 Other ways to do your Leaving Cert 11 LEFT SCHOOL? Local Supports 13 Alternative Choices 14 Further Education without the Leaving Cert 18 Money Matters when Studying 23 EMPLOYMENT Career Directions 25 Finding a Job 26 Your Employment Rights 27 ADULTS WHO HAVE LEFT SCHOOL EARLY 29 DRUG & ALCOHOL AWARENESS 30 INDEX 31 WHO WE ARE 33 BEFORE YOU LEAVE !! Things to consider The legal age for leaving school is 16 or after your Junior Cert - whichever is later. There are very few options for those who leave before 16. It’s worth considering that the risk of unemployment is higher for young people who leave school early. However, formal education isn’t an absolute necessity to a sucessful life. There are many ways to succeed, and many ways to educate yourself. What will you do if you leave? 3 BEFORE YOU LEAVE telling your parents! If you make a decision to leave school early it can cause conflict. Your Parents’ - V - Your viewpoint Your parents may have problems with your idea of leaving school. They may be concerned that you are passing up opportunities for your future. They may be disappointed, because in their eyes, you are giving up opportunities in school that they may not have had. They may not understand (or have forgotten) the pressures that are involved with school. There is often much more pressure on young people nowadays to achieve at school than there was in the past. They may be worried about you being able to get a job. Tips! It is important to listen to their point of view. Tell them about your feelings and concerns. If you have a plan - let them know what it is. If you feel you aren't able to do this without help, you could ask someone you trust to help you to talk about it with your parents. 4 BEFORE YOU LEAVE the legal bit! What happens if I miss a lot of school? Your school must report any student that is missing for 20 days or more to the National Educational Welfare Board. If the absence is unexplained an NEWB Educational Welfare Officer will talk to the school and then may decide to contact you in an effort to improve your school attendance (this may involve a visit to your home). An Educational Welfare Officer will help you in whatever way they can to ensure that you get an education by either going back to school regularly or receiving an education elsewhere. Helpline 1890 363 666 www.newb.ie Local Educational Welfare Officer contacts: Margaret Groome Ph: 2022011 (east of N11) Elaine Nolan Ph: 8738614 (west of N11) Who is responsible for me attending school? Under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, your parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring that you attend school. Will my parents / guardians be brought to court if I miss school? The Educational Welfare Officer has your best interests in mind and will try to provide whatever supports are needed to help you to attend school. If however, you or your family are not willing to work with the Educational Welfare Officer to make sure that you get the education you need, the matter may be referred to the courts. Legal action is the very last option. 5 BEFORE YOU LEAVE trouble at school - specific problems If you are unhappy in school, it is really important to talk to someone. There are people who are willing to help and offer you support and advice on how best to improve your school experience, or discuss what other options are out there. Local Educational Welfare Officer contacts: Margaret Groome Ph: 2022011 (east of N11) Elaine Nolan Ph: 8738614 (west of N11) I am being bullied in school – who can help? Your school should have an anti-bullying policy that states what will be done if someone is being bullied. Tell your parents and/ or a teacher in school what is happening. Don’t try to cope with this issue alone. I’m pregnant – do I have to leave school? No, there is no need for you to leave school. There are many supports available within school to help you. If you do need to be absent from school in the later stages of pregnancy or immediately following the birth of your baby, you are entitled to home tuition (9 hours a week for 10 weeks). Contact the Dept. of Education and Science Post Primary Section. Ph: 0906 484264, or 0906 484279 www.education.ie Contact your local Social Welfare Office to find out about social welfare entitlements. Dun Laoghaire Ph: 2145540 www.welfare.ie Rathfarnham Ph: 4069010 6 BEFORE YOU LEAVE trouble at school - specific problems For Parents! My 14 yr old child refuses to go to school, what should I do? Talk to the school and see if there are any ongoing problems that can be dealt with. Talk to the Educational Welfare Officer or ask for the NEPS psychologist assigned to the school to become involved. I think my best friend is drinking too much, I don’t know what to do: She has started to drink every weekend and is missing a lot of school. She is very defensive if anyone says anything to her about it, and a lot of our friends are giving up on her. How can I help her? Don’t take it all on yourself - talk to or call someone for advice (see below for useful numbers). Encourage your friend to talk to someone they trust, perhaps a family member, school counsellor, a youth worker or a friend. Give your friend a list of support organisations and helplines that will be more than willing to help. List of local supports: National Drugs & H.I.V Helpline 1800 459 459 Addiction Services, Centenary House, York Rd., Dun Laoghaire Ph: 2803335 Haniel Project; Sandyford Ph: 2176140 Shankill Ph: 2390675 Alateen Ph: 8732699 (10.30am - 2.30pm, Mon - Fri) Useful websites: www.drugs.ie www.dlrdrugtaskforce.ie 7 BEFORE YOU LEAVE trouble at school - specific problems How do I change schools? You need to apply in writing to the school of your choice, including your age and year to which you are applying. Also request a copy of the school’s admission policy. The school should then give you a decision in writing within 21 days. My local school won’t let me enrol, what now? If a school has refused you a school place and you are not happy with that decision, you can appeal it, under what is called a Section 29 Appeal (see below). I’ve been suspended (20 days or more) / expelled - what happens now? Your school must notify the National Educational Welfare Board. If you are not happy with this decision your parents (or you if you are 18 years of age or over) have a right to appeal under what is called a Section 29 Appeal. You can do this by filling in an Appeals form which is available on request from the school or downloadable from the Dept. of Education and Science website. Section 29 Appeal If you attend a VEC school, you must first appeal to the VEC - your school will give you a form. If unsuccessful in this appeal, you then can appeal to the Dept. of Education and Science. www.education.ie Appeals Admin Unit: 0906 483600 Contact your Local Educational Welfare Officer for advice: Margaret Groome Ph: 2022011 (east of N11) Elaine Nolan Ph: 8738614 (west of N11) 8 BEFORE YOU LEAVE supports @school National Educational Welfare Board The Educational Welfare Officers’ job is to support and act as an advocate for parents/guardians and children experiencing difficulty in going to school. They will help you in whatever way they can to ensure that you get an education by going back to school regularly or receiving an education elsewhere.