Information about County Kildare VEC

The vision and value of County Kildare Vocational Educational Committee – Mission Statement

County Kildare Vocational Education Committee will provide learners with flexible education opportunities, which are of the highest quality.  Our programs will reflect current and emerging knowledge and practices and will be relevant to the needs of the individual and our county. We will offer accessible programs, delivered in a professional manner in a friendly and supportive environment.

We will educate our students so that they are ready to undertake the roles, responsibilities and challenges available to them in further education, in business, industry, the professions, public service and society.

As a statutory education provider in County Kildare the Vocational Education Committee aspires to be a major contributor to the social, cultural and economic life of the county and the surrounding region. It will realise this aspiration by providing teaching and learning to the highest standards, innovation and flexibility.

Co. Kildare Vocational Education Committee is committed to the following values:

  • Supportive – through the provision of appropriate class groups, individual attention and a learning environment that will support student and staff in meeting their needs and aspirations.
  • Accessible – designing equality, diversity and inclusiveness in participation into all our programmes and activities.
  • Friendly – dealing with all stakeholders in a positive and responsive manner.
  • Relevant – ensuring the continued relevance to industry, business and society of our teaching programs particularly in the provision of quality lifelong learning experiences.

Co. Kildare Vocational Education Committee is about farming educational partnerships with the people of County Kildare which are:

* Respectful
* E mpowering
* Learner Centred
* Enlightening
* Vocational
* Active
* Nourishing
* Teacher Supportive

Overview of the Structure of County Kildare Vocational Educational Committee

County Kildare Vocational Educational Committee is a large Vocational Education Committee, serving a population of approximately 210,000.  It provides a wide- ranging education service to meet key vocational education and training needs of the County.  This includes 9 post- primary schools, 1 community schools and an Adult and Community Education service which has expanded to meet growing needs over several years.  The Committee serves a County that has changes dramatically in terms of demographics and industry in the past decade. It has responded well to its changing environment and has been flexible in recognising and responding to the changing needs of its stakeholders by providing educational opportunities based on principles of diversity and equality.

The Committee is a significant employer and contributor to the social and economic well-being of the county. The Committee manages a budget of approximately €50 million. The staff complement of County Kildare Vocational Education Committee consists of approximately 1,100 teaching and tutoring staff, administrators and a range of ancillary staff.

The range of education and training programmes offered by the Vocational Education Committee is continually expanding, based on a commitment to meet the needs of the people of Co. Kildare.

County Kildare Vocational Education Committee is comprised of representatives of its key stakeholder groups as specified in the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act (2001). The Committee is supported in its work by a number of sub-committee and Boards of Management for each school and centre.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who is responsible for executive management of the Vocational Education Committee, is supported by a comprehensive administrative structure covering key areas of responsibility such as finance, human resources and community services.

The CEO has executive responsibility for all Vocational Education Committee activities, including its schools and centres.  However, the Principal of each  school is responsible for the day-to-day management and operations and is supported in this by the School’s Board of Management.

Committee or CEO do not become involved in local management issues unless specific matters arise that requires some intervention or support. However, through the Board of Management, both CEO and Community remain informed of the progress of each school.

As with the schools, the CEO is ultimately responsible and accountable for the performance of its Adult and Further Education services. However, an Adult Education Officer, together with a team of Programme Coordinators takes responsibility for the day to day planning and operational management of these services.

Overview of services provided by Co. Kildare Vocational Educational Committee

  • First Level Education: County Kildare VEC is patron of Naas Community National School.
  • Second Level Education: The Committee operates nine second level schools in Maynooth, Leixlip, Prosperous, Naas, Rathangan, Newbridge, Athy and Castledermont. Each of these schools has its own website, outlining the range of facilities and education services provided by it. Co. Kildare Vocational Education Committee is also joint trustee of three Community Schools in Co. Kildare, namely Colaiste Chiarain, St. Wolstan’s, Celbridge, Scoil Mhuire, Clane and Kildare Community School.
  • Further, Adult and Community Education: The Committee delivers a range of PLC, Further and Adult Education courses from its centres and schools.  Co. Kildare Vocational Education Committee also provides a range of opportunities in adult learning including VTOS, BTEI, Adult Basic Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Community Education as well as a comprehensive range of evening courses.
  • Youth Services: Youthreach Programmes are provided in three centres (Leixlip, Athy and Naas). These deliver a range of FETAC accredited training courses as an alternative to mainstream second level education. The Committee also provides a range of other youth services such as information, funding support, training and evaluation. Co. Kildare Vocational Educational Committee is the designated statutory Agency for the provision and coordination of youth services under the Youthwork Act, 2001. We acknowledge the contribution of Kildare Youth Services and other work providers in this respect.

The services provided by Co. Kildare Vocational Education Committee at all levels are characterised by the following factors:

  • Shared Vision: That everyone involved, staff, participaints and volunteers are working towards a common vision of what we want to achieve in the educational process. It is not enough to simply verbalise our vision, we must make it concrete in the way we do things at all levels of operation.
  • Good Organisation: That the relationship we have with each other in providing an educational service is paramount. Good process will facilitate good organisation.
  • Quality of the Learning Relationship: The quality of the learning relationship is critical to the learning environment. This is borne out by our experience of education and by authors on the subject. In his book “On Becoming a Person” Carl Rodgers says that “the degree to which I can create relationships that facilitate the growth of others as separate persons is a measure of the growth I have achieved myself”.
  • For Participants in Education: Blocks to learning are not the technical details about the range of subjects but rather the person’s own self-esteem and confidence. Our objective is to provide a service that is learner focused and holistic.