Galway Community College has seen the single largest improvement of students heading on to third level education of any school in Ireland in recent years.
In the past decade the percentage of students from Galway Community College who went on the third level education has gone up by leaps and bounds from 21 percent in 2009 to 71 percent last year.
The Sunday Independent School League Tables has looked at the performance of over 200 Irish schools in the past ten years and analysed how much of their student body goes on to third level education.
Speaking to the Independent deputy principal Shane McClearn said the school has benefited from empowering students and teachers to speak up about what’s happening in the school and what they think could be done better.
Galway Community College also has a memorandum of understanding with GMIT to provide PLC’s and lunchtime clubs to show pupils what’s available, as well as strong relationships with local companies for internships and placements.
Three schools in Galway made the list of the top 15 non-fee paying schools in Ireland for sending students on to third level.
Colaiste na Coiribe in Knocknacarra placed fifth in the overall rankings, sending 98 percent of its students to third level education.
This year six non-fee paying schools in the country with a perfect score this year, with 100 percent of pupils progress to higher education.
Salerno College in Salthill came in at 9th place on the list, sending 97 percent of students on to a college, university or institute of technology.
2018 saw Salerno break a perfect streak that had last four year, with 91 percent of pupils progressing last year.
The final Galway school to make the top of the list was Colaiste Iognaid ‘The Jes’ coming in 14th place with 95 percent of students going on to third level education in the past decade.
