High School
General information
Equivalents
Irish Schools
Prices and payment method
Other destinations
General information
High School Program
Live with an Irish family, study at a local school and enjoy a great life experience
Upon arrival in Ireland, there will be an orientation day in addition to being received by host families.
You can choose to study for:
- Half term
- 1 term
- 2 terms
- Full year
Requirements
Be a student between 12 and 18 years old.
Have good grades in the country of origin.
Have a minimum level of proficiency in the target language.
Want to participate in this program.
Possess a valid identity document for the entire duration of the program.
Apply for a student visa to study in Spain (if necessary).
Sign and follow the program rules
At Always we interview all our students with their parents to know the level of language they have, their motivations and be able to advise on the most appropriate school modality in each case.
Our High School includes:
- Personal interviews, documentation and level tests
- Selection of the right school for the student
- Attendance throughout the course
- Family selection for holiday periods where appropriate
- Transfers from the airport: at the beginning and end of the course + Christmas in case of full year
- Sickness and accident insurance
- Periodic reports from the school on the student
- Counseling and assistance to students in 2nd year of Baccalaureate to perform the selectivity tests
The prices do not include:
- Air transport between Spain and the chosen country
- Management of the student visa in the cases that apply
- Personal expenses of the student
- Validation expenses
- Private language classes if necessary
- Any expenses derived from the selectivity test in the cases that apply
- School uniform if necessary
- Textbooks and school supplies in most centres
- Stay and maintenance of the student during the holiday periods in some schools
Other expenses:
For Spain: validation of the Title: 300€
Including the opening of the file in the Ministry, realization and presentation of sworn translations, Apostille and collection of the Credentials.
The allocation of schools in Ireland will be carried out based on the following criteria:
- Preferably 2 students of the same nationality per school. In this way immersion is favored, avoiding the use of their own language and, at the same time, students have a support of their nationality, in the same situation, which is very positive especially for the first days.
- The preferences expressed by the student / parents during the individual interviews that are made once the place reservation is received.
- Available nearby families and match of their characteristics with the needs expressed by the student / parents during individual interviews.
The choice of class, however, will be determined by the head of studies of the centre, depending on the school dossier, the level of English of the student and the availability at the time of placement. The teachers are understanding at the beginning and collaborate in the integration of the student in their new class, with the Irish students, in order to achieve the most complete immersion possible.
In addition, at the end of the quarter a detailed report is issued with the academic results and an evaluation of work and behavior.
Transition Year
“Transition Year”, is a very popular course among international students, because of the advantages it entails for their learning of the English language, as well as on a personal level, of maturity and responsibility. TY is a very practical course, consisting of much less theoretical subjects and more focused on preparing for adult life, which the students of this course will embark on in a short time. In TY they will learn to cook, to handle the expenses of a home, to carry out projects of different subjects, etc.
In addition, it is worth highlighting what in Ireland is known as the «Work Experience» in which students perform real work practices in local businesses. To do this, they will have to go through the whole process to get a job: from creating a good Curriculum Vitae to searching for available offers and presenting themselves for interviews. Depending on the centre, work experiences may be carried out in the first or second trimester, usually during a consecutive week, or one day a week for a month. This experience allows students to discover the labor world firsthand before launching into it in a few years, being much more aware of the training and responsibility it requires. TY is a voluntary school course, with lower academic requirements than the rest of the courses, so it is perfect to allow foreign students to focus on language learning, as well as receive an alternative and very enriching education on a personal level and in practice. Even so, for students with a good initial level of English, the 5th year is also highly recommended.
Carpentry classroom example
Example of a blacksmith room
Extracurricular Activities and Excursions
Almost all schools organize sports, social and cultural activities during / after school or on weekends. They are usually free or include a small supplement. It is also very common for schools to have theme clubs: sports, music or arts are the most common.
The sports activities that are usually performed are: basketball, football, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, etc. As for the cultural and social activities that take place in the school, the most common are the following: drama, debates, competitions, exhibitions, films and excursions. We encourage foreign students to participate in all extracurricular activities as it is the best way to integrate into the school community and remain active, as well as to continue practicing the language constantly.
Extracurricular activities and excursions throughout the island are also organized by the local Always coordinators, especially during the first weekends, in which the students are still in the first period of adaptation and have more free time.
School uniform
In Ireland, both public and private schools make use of a school uniform. Depending on the centre they are more or less strict with their use, allowing in some of them the use of garments similar to the official ones, even if they do not contain the logo of the school, or the use of tennis or sports shoes. Especially with international students, the centres tend to be more permissive, since they know they will only be there for a few months. Many schools even lend uniforms to foreign students to avoid having to buy them.
Even so, Always has a small stock of uniforms from almost every school and you will have the possibility to rent the clothes you need with us, at a very reduced price. In addition, before traveling we will give you all the information about your uniform, since some of the garments can be very basic (white polo shirts, blue shirts …) and you can buy them at your location at a lower price than in Ireland.
School calendar
| Start | End | |
| First quarter | End of August / Early September | Mid December |
| Second quarter | Beginning of January | End of March |
| Third quarter | Beginning of April | End of May or Beginning of June |
In addition, in Ireland they have a week of vacations in the middle of each quarter, called “Mid-term Holidays”.
Accommodation
Accommodation will take place in native families, making the student a family member during their stay. The student will have their own single room and will be the only Spanish speaker at home. You must obey the rules of your new home, collaborating in tasks and participating in family life, as with your own family.
Families will live near schools, so that the student can easily go to class on foot, by direct public transport, or on the school route. In addition, some families may have a car and availability to take students to school, especially those with children studying in the same centre.
Equivalents
|
Years |
Ireland | Italy | Portugal | Spain | Germany | France | Mexico |
Brazil |
||
| 2 years | ||||||||||
| 3-4 years | Infant Classes
(1) |
Kindergarten
(1) |
preschool | 1º infantile | Kindergarten
(1) |
Nursery school
(small section) |
1º preschool | 1º preschool | ||
| 4-5 years | Infant Classes
(2) |
Kindergarten
(2) |
preschool | 2º infantile | Kindergarten
(2) |
Nursery school
(middle section) |
2º preschool | 2º preschool | ||
| 5-6 years | Infant Classes
(3) |
Kindergarten
(3) |
preschool | 3º infantile | Kindergarten
(3) |
Nursery school
(large section) |
3º preschool | 3º preschool | ||
| 6-7 years | primary school
(1 grade) |
primary school
(1 grade) |
primary education
1st cycle of basic education |
1º primary school | 1º primary school | Preparatory Course
(II Cycle) |
primary school
1º grade |
Fundamental Education I
1º |
||
| 7-8 years | primary school (2 grade) | primary school
(2 grade) |
primary education
1st cycle of basic education |
2º primary school | 2º primary school | Elementary Course 1
(II Cycle) |
primary school
2º grade |
Fundamental Education I
2º |
||
| 8-9 years | primary school
(3 grade) |
primary school
(3 grade) |
primary education
1st cycle of basic education |
3º primary school | 3º primary school | Elementary Course 2
(III Cycle) |
primary school
3º grade |
Fundamental Education I
3º |
||
| 9-10 years | primary school
(4 grade) |
primary school
(4 grade) |
primary education
1st cycle of basic education |
4º primary school | 4º primary school | Intermediate course 1º
(III Cycle) |
primary school
4º grade |
Fundamental Education I
4º |
||
| 10-11 years | primary school
(5 grade) |
Primary school
(5 grade) |
primary education
2nd cycle of basic education |
5º primary school | secondary school
1º |
Intermediate course 2º
(III Cycle) |
primary school
5º grade |
Fundamental Education I
5º |
||
| 11-12 years | primary school
(6) |
secondary school
first level |
primary education
2nd cycle of basic education |
6º primary school | secondary school
2º |
Sixth grade
Cycle of observation |
primary school
6º grade |
Fundamental Education II
6º |
||
| 12-13 years | 1º Junior Cycle | secondary school
first level |
primary education
3rd cycle of basic education |
1º Obligatory Secondary Education | secondary school
3º |
Fifth grade
Central Cycle |
1º Secondary
Basic General Technical Secondary |
Fundamental Education II
7º |
||
| 13-14 years | 2º Junior Cycle | secondary school
first level Intermediate Certificate Diploma |
primary education
3rd cycle of basic education |
2º Obligatory Secondary Education | secondary school
4º |
Fourth grade
Central Cycle |
2º Secondary
Basic General Technical Secondary |
Fundamental Education II
8º |
||
| 14-15 years | 3º Junior Cycle
Jr. Certificate |
high school
1º cycle |
primary education
3rd cycle of basic education |
3º Obligatory Secondary Education | secondary school
5º |
Third grade
Orientation Cycle |
3º Secondary Basic
General Technical Secondary |
Fundamental Education II
9º |
||
| 15-16 years | 4º Senior Cycle
School Transition Year |
high school
2º cycle |
high school
1º cycle |
4º Obligatory Secondary Education | secondary school
6º |
Second grade
Cycle of determination |
1º high school
General Technical Secondary |
Intermediate Education
1º |
||
| 16-17 years | 5º Senior Cycle | high school
3º cycle |
high school
2º cycle |
high school
1º cycle |
high school
1º Gymnasium |
General,
Technological Professional First Final Cycle |
2º high school
General Technical Secondary |
Intermediate Education
2º |
||
| 17-18 years | 6º Senior
Cycle Leaving Certificate |
high school
4º cycle |
high school
3º cycle |
high school
2º cycle |
high school
2º Gymnasium |
General
Technology Professional Terminal Final Cycle |
3º high school
General Technical Secondary |
Intermediate Education
3º Technical Intermediate Level Certificate. |
||
| 18-19 years | high school
5º cycle |
|||||||||
Italy
When they reach second grade high school, students can choose for the first time in their educational life. There are three types of schools, each of which specializes in one type of teaching:
Lyceum. It offers theoretical training in an area of specialization, which can be art, humanities or sciences. It is aimed at creating a basis for access to higher education and consists of five courses, ranging from 14 to 19 years.
Technical Institute. It combines practical and theoretical training in economics or technical subjects. It lasts five years, the first two are common to the chosen branch and during the remaining three is deepened in a specialty. It generally includes a period of three or six months of practice in the last year. It allows access to university and higher studies.
Professional institute. It offers a very practical and specialized education of three years of duration oriented to the labor market.
Irish Schools
|
PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
PRIVATE SCHOOLS |
BOARDING SCHOOLS |
| Co – education
Female Male Special Dublin |
Co – education
Female Male Special Dublin Full list Price list |
Co – education
Female Male Special Dublin |
Prices and payment method
Prices
Half term
Travel dates (approx.): August 30 to November 2
Price: €3,630
Payments:
- 1st payment at the time of booking: deposit of €2,000
- 2nd payment at the time of delivery of the documentation (June) the remaining €1,630 is paid
First trimester
Travel dates (approx.): August 30 in mid-December
Price: € 6,160 – (€ 420 discount for Tenerife students = € 5,740*)
Payments:
- 1st payment at the time of booking: deposit of €2,000
- 2nd payment at the time of delivery of the documentation (June) the remaining €2,160 – (€420 = €1,740*) is paid
- 3rd payment: the rest is done by transfer of €500/month (in the first 5 days of the month), for 4 months, with the last payment being the month of November.
Full Course
Travel dates (approx.): August 30 to June 1
Price: €11,730
Payments:
- 1st payment at the time of booking: deposit of €2,500
- 2nd payment at the time of delivery of the documentation (June): €4,730
- 3rd payment: the rest is done by direct debits of € 1,125/month (in the 5 first days of the month), for 4 months, from September to December.
Payment method
Payments can be made in one of the following ways (PLEASE INDICATE YOUR NAME AS A PAYMENT REFERENCE):
WIRE TRANSFER
Account Name: Always Languages Limited
Bank: AIB Donnybrook Branch
69/71 Morehampton Road
Donnybrook
Dublin 4
Account number: IE30AIBK93103924820186
BIC: IEAIBK93 or AIBK93
PAYPAL
3.5% surcharge on all payment methods with Paypal.
- To Spain: Payment must be made to this account: info@always-idiomas.com
- To Ireland: Payment must be made to this account: info@alwayslanguages.ie
ZAPPER CREDIT CARD
Payment by card has a surcharge of 1.75%.
You need to download the Zapper application available for IOS, Android and Windows. Once you have it installed, scan the QR code and follow the instructions.
PAY TO STUDY
(For non-European students)
From this link
All charges are the responsibility of the customer
REFUND POLICY
The following refund policy will be applied to applications received by Always School:
- If the student cancels the course before being assigned to a school and a family, Always School will retain the application cost of 500 euros.
- After confirmation of the College, the costs of applying for a place in the school and cancellation fees to Always School will be withheld: 1500 euros.
- Cancellations communicated four weeks after the start of the program will incur 2000 euro cancellation fees.
- Cancellations communicated two weeks after the start of the program will account for 50% of the total bill.
- No student who cancels the program will be refunded after arrival in Ireland.
- Students who fail to adapt and return home will not receive any refund.
- No refund will be made to students who have been expelled for misconduct.
- Always offers the option of contracting cancellation insurance that covers the causes of force majeure or for having suspended the course in your home country.