ACE (Accessing College Education)
ACE is a programme for Senior Cycle students in three West Tallaght second-level schools:
• Jobstown Community College
• Killinarden Community School
• St. Aidan’s Community School.
ACE was established in 1998, and now has between 40 and 50 students participating each year. Intensive after-school academic activities, weekend language schools, and pre-exam revision classes are funded by the Department of Education and Science. On-campus academic activities are also run by the Institute of Technology Tallaght, and by UCD. Familiarisation events in both higher education institutions form an integral part of the pre-entry programme.
There is an active Parents’ Programme, with a number of Educational Home Visitors, information sessions in ITT, and parent representatives on the Management Committee.
On average about 75% of participants progress to third level education. The ACE programme presents each student who enters third level with a small bursary. Post-entry, students are supported by the Access Programmes in ITT and UCD; the Tallaght Partnership; and the Tallaght Youth Service. Students receive a wide range of financial, academic and personal supports.
ACE is innovative because it utilises the resources of many different agencies and organisations, at both pre-entry and post-entry stages. The project succeeds in maintaining a high level of co-operation between school personnel, the project Co-ordinator, the Department of Education, ITT and UCD Access Offices, Parents, the Tallaght Partnership, and Tallaght Youth Service.
