Rice College is a Voluntary Catholic Secondary School for boys under the Trusteeship of the Christian Brothers Congregation. The college endeavors at all times to develop to the greatest possible extent the intellectual, emotional and spiritual potential of its members. The Christian Brothers have a long tradition of education in Westport. They set up their first school in Castlebar Street in 1865 and moved from there to the Newport Road in 1962 where the National School is today. With the growth in education for all a new Secondary school was built on the Castlebar Road in 1987 called Rice College with its modern facilities and later a gym and pitches were added. An Astro-Turf pitch along with a reseeded all weather grass pitch was completed in 2015. The collaboration of the whole school, community, parents, teachers, students, Brothers and the total catchment area has brought this about so that Rice College can now cater for the needs of all its’ students.
Rice College provides a comprehensive array of physical education activities within its excellent range of facilities. The full sized sport hall ensures that avtiviites such as indoor Soccer, Badminton, Basketball Unihoc, Volleyball, Cuili, Olympic Handball and a Health Related Fitness Training can take place on a year round basis. The pitch at the school facilitates the perparation of teams for competitions in Gaelic Football, Soccer and Rugby.
To cater for a wide range of student interest the school enters teams in Golf, Badminton, Handball, Swimming and and Athletics. Extensive use is also made of the leisure facilities in the town for aquatics and circuit training.
Rice College is committed to the transmission of Christian values. It seeks to cater for the spiritual, physical, academic and vocational needs of all students. It works in partnership with parents and the wider community in order to achieve the highest standards of teaching, learning and performance. It seeks to enhance the personal and social skills of each student and promotes the professional development of its staff. The school positively encourages its pupils; it aims to provide a positive environment in which students grow to maturity, so that on leaving Rice College, they may be better able to take their place as responsible citizens.
Rice College welcomes all those who apply for places in the college. Those accepted must agree to abide by the Code of Behaviour and all school policies. Students are catered for by the wide choice of subjects offered, especially at Leaving Certificate level. As a large school with over 400 pupils the college can offer up to 15 examinations subject (see curriculum). Students with a learning difficulty have the services of our Special Needs department. Students have the option of studying for the Leaving Certificate Applied course if they so wish. Rice College is a place of leaning and learning can only take place if the students are willing to learn and work at their studies. Rice College expects each student to work to the very best of ability.
There are special study facilities for 3rd and 6th year students. Classes are not streamed by ability in the school in First Year, they are randomly divided. In First Year it is school policy to allow students to sample every subject the school offers for Junior Certificate. All students take the Junior Certificate at Higher, Ordinary or Foundation (see curriculum). For Leaving Certificate students are advised to choose on of the three options:
- Leaving Certificate – Points Orientated taken by the majority of students.
- Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme – a combination of the normal Leaving Certificate and Vocational Link Modules.
- Leaving Certificate Applied – New approach to final exam of continuous assessment.
- Transition Year – a year of varied academic learning as well as activities, projects and work experience.
Curriculum Provision
Junior Certificate:
Irish, English, Maths, History, Geography, Modern Foreign Language - French, Religious Education, Science, Visual Art, Business Studies,Music,Graphics, Wood Technology, Coding & Digital Media, Literacy,Wellbeing Subjects,Physical Education (PE),Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE),Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE),Wellbeing.
Leaving Certificate:
Irish, English, French, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Economics, Accounting, Business Studies, Construction Studies, Design and Communication Graphics, Geography, History, Religious Education, Art, Physical Education and Applied Mathematics.
Rice College policies are based on Christian respect for every individual person. Spiritual formation is catered for by Religious Education with a Catholic emphasis and the celebration and provision of sacraments. Those of other faiths and traditions, or none, have attended Rice College and their beliefs are respected. A Chaplaincy service along with Counselling and a Career Guidance are available.