Message for Parents of Transition Years (and 3rd Years moving to 5th Year) on the CAT4 Assessment, March 2026:
At Coláiste Abbáin, we believe in providing every student with the opportunity to realise their full potential and achieve at their highest level. To inform subject choice and to gain a further understanding of the learning needs of our incoming senior cycle students, we are going to be administering a series of short cognitive ability assessments on Friday, March 6th, 2026.
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) assesses a student’s ability to think across four different reasoning batteries:
Verbal reasoning – thinking with words
Quantitative reasoning – thinking with number
Non-Verbal reasoning – thinking with shapes
Spatial reasoning – thinking with shapes and space
I would like to stress that this is an assessment of ability and not attainment, so no pre-learning or preparation is necessary. Your child should not feel worried about taking CAT4 as prior knowledge is not required to complete it. The results will be used together with our internal assessment practices, to inform teachers about the strengths and development areas of each student that attends Coláiste Abbáin. I have made a video explaining the CAT4 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lirnQ4Atyrs&t=377s
A Parent Report detailing the results of the CAT4 assessment will be sent home to you the week of March 9th, during the Subject Choice process.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to phone the school or contact me at philipobrien@wwetb.ie. Thank you.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CAO Update for Parents of 6th Year Students, January 2026
As we move into the final stages of the CAO application process, we want to ensure all parents and guardians are aware of the key dates and supports available to students.
CAO Registration & Course Application Deadline:
Students must have their initial CAO application completed by Thursday, 1st February at 5pm.
At this point, students should enter at least one course choice. Their course list does not need to be final.
Change of Mind Facility:
After the February deadline, students will be able to adjust and finalise their course choices through the CAO Change of Mind period, which opens on 5th May and remains available until 1st July, 5pm.
Restricted Courses Reminder:
Courses requiring auditions, assessments, or portfolios must be included on the CAO by 1st February, as they cannot be added after this date.
PLC (Post Leaving Certificate) Courses:
Many PLC colleges begin opening their applications throughout January and February. Students interested in PLC routes should keep on eye on the course they are interested in and make the application early as places are limited and can fill up.
I am of course here to support students with PLC applications alongside CAO choices.
Please encourage your son/daughter to reach out if they need guidance or advice or contact me yourself with any queries by phoning the school or by email (philipobrien@wwetb.ie).
Information on Guidance at Coláiste Abbáin:
Guidance in Coláiste Abbáin incorporates educational, career, personal and social guidance delivered within a whole-school context, to include the role of all teachers and the specialised role of the guidance counsellor. Provision of guidance involves planning for, and delivering, a range of learning experiences provided in a developmental sequence that assist students to develop self-management skills, which will lead to effective choices and decisions about their lives. Guidance is, by definition, person-centred, and holistic. Guidance supports students’ personal and social, educational and career development. Guidance facilitates and empowers students to make informed decisions and life choices. Guidance plays a significant role in supporting students’ wellbeing and contributes to building internal and external resilience.
Guidance “encompasses the three separate, but interlinked, areas of personal and social development, educational guidance and career guidance”. (Department of Education and Science; 2005, pg. 4)
Guidance Counsellor & Guidance Team Coordinator: Mr Philip O'Brien
Guidance at Coláiste Abbáin includes:
- Options for Employment, Training and Third Level
- Links with Local Industry Leaders
- Career and College Research
- Individual Guidance Appointments
- Psychometric Testing and Reporting
- Job Applications - CVs, Letters of Application and Interview Techniques
- Study Skills and Exam Techniques
- Visits to Open Days, Jobs Fair and Career Exhibitions
- CAO, PLC and Apprenticeship Applications
- Éacht Programme (Senior student meetings with Senior Leardership)
- Athena Tracking and Monitoring
- Careers Week
- Subject Teacher Talks
- Subject Fair
- Subject Option Support
- Guest Speakers
- Work Experience Support
Useful Links:
