Coláiste Pobail Ráth Dara

Rath Dara Community College

Strength through Cooperation


School Completion Programme

The School Completion Programme, (SCP), was set up as part of Department of Education and Skills, (DES), DEIS Strategy which is : Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools.

The School completion programme is now under the remit of TESS - Tusla Educational Support Services, along with Home School Community Liaison and Education welfare officers.

The T.O.F.E. (Together Opportunities For Education Programme) School Completion Programme operates in a cluster of four schools including Rathdara Community College, Saint Patrick's Junior and Senior National School and Ladyswell National School.

Here in Rathdara Community College the aim of the T.O.F.E. programme is to encourage students through various supports and interventions to improve their attendance, participation and retention.

When do we provide these interventions?

  1. In School Supports – facilitating evidence based programmes with students in school such as the MAP Programme and the Working Things Out Programme.
  2. Out Of School Supports – To support students with a prolonged absence from school to find suitable education alternatives or to reengage into the school community.
  3. Holiday time support - during school holidays, such as summer and midterm camps.

Who do we provide these interventions for?

  1. Targeted Interventions – where an individual has been identified as being at particular risk of early school leaving or educational disadvantage.
  2. Brief Interventions – Where students require a short term intervention, (8 weeks), to meet an immediate/ short term need.
  3. Universal Intervention- which ideally are evidence based / informed and open to all students

Referrals to the project can be made by principals, parents or guardians, other service providers within the community and self-referrals are also accepted.

Who provides the interventions?

We have a team of three dynamic and creative individuals in Úna McDonnell the Project Coordinator, Cathriona Hogan – the Project Worker / Attendance Monitor and we are also extremely fortunate to have a part time Administrator in Linda McGilloway.