Mission Statement/Ethos
As an Edmund Rice Schools Trust School (ERST) we are inspired by the vision of our founder, Blessed Edmund Rice who devoted his life to the service of others. Coláiste Éamann Rís is privileged to serve its local community. Our school motto, Uaisleacht, evokes this spirit of service to others. We challenge each student to fulfil his unique potential as a student and a human being.
The keystone idea in all of our Codes is that each individual is entitled to respect but must also give respect.
If you would like to learn more about the work of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) please click here.
School History
Coláiste Éamann Rís is the oldest school on Cork’s southside. Originally founded in 1828 on Sullivan’s Quay by the Christian Brothers, our school has educated over the years to meet the changing needs of Cork City and its young people.
In September 2019, our school was rededicated and became Coláiste Éamann Rís – the first English – speaking co-educational Catholic secondary school in Cork City. Coláiste Éamann Rís is Irish for Edmund Rice College – the decision to change our name was linked to our change in status as a co-educational school, and to honor our school’s founder, Blessed Edmund Rice.
School Crest
Coláiste Éamann Rís is the oldest school on Cork’s southside. Originally founded in 1828 on Sullivan’s Quay by the Christian Brother, our school has evolved over the years to reach the changing needs of Cork City and its young people.
In September 2019, our school was redirected and became Coláiste Éamann Ris – the first English-speaking co-educational Catholic secondary school in Cork City. Coláiste Éamann Ris is Irish for Edmund Rice College – the decision to change in status as a co-educational school, and to hear our school’s founder, Blessed Edmund Rice.
The School Day
School starts at 8:45 a.m every day. Students should be in school no later than 8.40 a.m. Student attendance is recorded in each class on VSware; parents/guardians are notified by absenses by SMS.
8.45 – 10.41: Students attend two one hour long classes
10.41 – 10.54: Students meet with their Class Tutor or have mid-morning break.
11.07-13.03: Students attend two one hour long lessons.
13.03 -13.33: Lunch Break – students may NOT leave school. A free hot lunch is provided to all our students.
13.33 – 15.29: Students attend two hour long classes.
School concludes at 15.29 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. And at 13.03 on Wednesdays.
*Whole school does not take mid-morning break at the same time, while one half is at mid-morning break the other is meeting with their tutor and vice-versa.
Long lessons will benefit your child in numerous ways:
- Students participate in six-hour-long lessons rather than nine forty-minute lessons – this achieves depth rather than breadth of learning.
- Six subjects a day, also reduces the amount of time wasted by students teaching from class to class.
- Six subjects a day rather than nine means a lighter school bag!
- More time for group work. Research proves that students best learn through active communication with one another.
- In an hour-long lesson, students are more actively engaged in learning through various activities.
- More time is dedicated to allowing the student to think, question, and reflect on what is being taught.
- Hour long lessons allow for greater opportunities to achieve the key skills needed to face the challenges of adult life.
School Discipline
Our discipline structure is based on a points system, with each student starting with 500 points; students may gain or lose points depending on their behaviour and actions in class. Importantly, the points system is used to accentuate the positive. Students with high scores are rewarded with cinema tickets, tickets to sporting events, book vouchers etc.
We also operate a three tiered card system (green, yellow, red) for students whose behaviour we are concerned about.
Coláiste Éamann Rís operates a zero tolerance policy for punctuality and uniform infringements. It is the responsibility of each student (and their families) to ensure that they are at school on time and in full uniform.
School Curriculum
Students choose to study four of the above optional subjects for their Junior Cycle examinations. Some students may also study Junior Cycle approval short courses ‘coming for animals’ and ‘digital literacy’. (Two short courses are the equivalent of studying one subject.)
Transition Year
Our transition year programme allows students to experience learning in new ways – at Coláiste Éamann Rís transition year is an active, student centered course which allows students time to grow, learn, and mature before entering their final years of study.
All students in Leaving Certificate study English, Irish* and Maths (*unless your child has a Department of Education and Skills approved exemption.) Students also study four of the following options.
- History
- Geography
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Design, Communication and Graphics
- Construction Studies
- French
- Business Studies
- Home Economics
Extra Curricular Activities
- Colaiste Éamann Ris offers a wide range of extra-curricular of activities ranging from sports to robotics.
- Hurling
- Gaelic Football
- Soccer
- Rugby
- Basketball
- Badminton
- Taste Tennis
- Orienteering
- Athletics
- Pitch and Put
- Drama
- Chess
- Robotics
- Board Games
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Book Club
- Coderdojo
Board Of Management
Coláiste Éamannn Rís is a member of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust. A board of management runs the school on behalf of the Trust. There are eight members of the board of management; four members annointed by trustees, together with two teacher representatives and two parent representatives.
The chairperson of the Board Of Management is former Lord Mayor and post pupil Cllr. Mick Finn. Mr.Finn is a trustee representative.
Our School Community
Coláiste Éamann Rís is a vibrant co-educational secondary school in the heart of Cork City, where young people are prepared for adult life in the Edmund Rice tradition of education. Our school motto, ‘Uaisleacht’, invokes the strength of character, nobility of spirit and kindness of heart to which we encourage all to aspire.
Our school offers Junior Cycle School Programme, the traditional Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and Leaving Certificate Applied. Each student is assigned to a base class with a class tutor. Unlike in other schools at Coláiste Éamann Ris, students meet their tutor every day for a fifteen minute clock and connect period. In this way, the class tutor can clock in on each of their students social, emotional, and academic progress. Each year group is also assigned a Year Head who runs the year group like mini-school – checking absences, behaviour and course results.
Home School Community Liaison
HSCL Coordinators are teachers in schools assigned to HSCL, to work primarily well the salient adults in the child’s life, in order to empower them, so that they can better support their children to attend school, participate in education and develop positive attitudes to life-long learning.
At Coláiste Éamann Ris we are very fortunate to have the very dedicated Carmel O’Callaghan as HSCL co-ordinator. Ms. O’Callaghan is a French and English teacher from within the school appointed to the role of HSCL. All parents of first year students can expect to meet with Ms. O’Callaghan at their own home inside the first term of the new academic year.
Central to the HSCL initiative, is the identification of needs and the provision of a tailored and proportionate response to those needs, through a range of interventions, which are evidence-based, focused and structured.
HSCL Coordinators, as agents of change in schools, work in an integrated way with other support services, particularly School Completion Programme staff and Educational Welfare Officers to implement a whole-school approach to improving attendance, participation and retention in education.