Post primary education

The REACH RCSI Programme works with several post primary schools on a number of projects, and is officially linked to the schools in the local community.

• Presentation Secondary School, Warrenmount, Dublin 8
• CBS Westland Row, Dublin 2
• CBS Synge Street, Dublin 8

See it, Do it' Biology Series

The 'See it, Do it' Biology Series is an initiative which aims to support the teaching of Leaving Certificate biology in link schools by providing students with an opportunity to get hands-on experience of the mandatory practical activities from the Leaving Certificate curriculum. It also aims to familiarise students with a laboratory environment and research areas.

 

Laboratory One; Dissect, display and identify an ox's or a sheep's heart, November 2016.

 

The participants are made up of Leaving Certificate students from the local community and link secondary schools CBS Westland Row, Presentation Secondary School Warrenmount and CBS Synge Street. Students work in small groups in the RCSI laboratory, getting a chance to conduct the activities independently while guided by RCSI demonstrators.

 See It, Do It 2015 participants and demonstrators

The series covers activities on the cardiovascular system, osmosis, qualitative food test, effects on plant germination, production of alcohol by yeast, DNA isolation from plant tissue and examining animal and plant cells with the light microscope.

REACH RCSI Grinds Club

The REACH RCSI Grinds Club is an initiative which offers free one-to-one academic support to secondary level students from our local community of Dublin's south east inner city, who would be otherwise unable to access such support.

The Junior Certificate Club and Leaving Certificate Club both take place weekly during the academic term in the RCSI campus on St Stephen's Green. Applications are welcomed directly from individuals from the local community and students attending our link schools.

Support is also available for individuals returning to education.

REACH RCSI Grinds Club (Junior Certificate) members 2016-2017

RCSI staff and students volunteer their time to work with a learner, providing academic support on a broad range of subjects at either Junior or Leaving Certificate level. Additional support includes career guidance, study skills, exam techniques, support with college and grant applications, mock interviews and oral work. To register your interest in becoming a volunteer tutor with the REACH grinds club, please fill in the volunteer registration form through Moodle.

 

The club aims to facilitate access to academic support in a safe and informal environment. The key goals of the club are:

To contribute to breaking the cycle of educational disadvantage

To foster a positive view of education

To raise educational aspirations

To familiarise participants with a third level environment 

 

How to become a member of the Junior or Leaving Certificate Grinds Club

Junior and Leaving Certificate students are invited to register for a place in the 2017-2018 Grinds Club. Contact the REACH RCSI Programme Manager Maria Kelly at (01) 402 8667 or email reach@rcsi.ie to request a registration form. Please note places in the Grinds Clubs are limited, and registration is essential. A wait list may apply, and places will be allocated from the wait list throughout the year.

Feedback from Grinds Club participants and volunteers has been extremely positive over the years:

• "They helped with topics we had already finished in school, and helped me understand them more and feel more comfortable answering the questions."
• "My tutor used easy methods to help me study complicated chapters."
• "It was lots of fun and a great opportunity to help students in the community achieve academic success!"

 

Education and career information service

The REACH RCSI programme provides local secondary school students with ongoing information on CV preparation, interviewing skills, and higher education courses. The RCSI HR department also provides an annual opportunity for the students to experience a formal interview setting by conducting mock interviews with the students.

 

RCSI HR Department with students from Warrenmount Presentation Secondary School.