Kinsale Community School
Kinsale Community School is based in the town of Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland. It caters for around 1100 students[1] aged 12–18 with around 90 staff and the principal is currently Mr. Fergal McCarthy. The school has a short but rich history becoming a leader in academics, sports, entrepreneurship and community work.
| Kinsale Community School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| |
| , Republic of Ireland | |
| Coordinates | 51.7043°N 8.5295°W |
| Information | |
| Motto | Omnes Communiter Discendo |
| Established | 1996 |
| Principal | Fergal McCarthy |
| Staff | ~90 |
| Age | 12 to 18 |
| Number of students | ~1100 |
| Colour(s) | blue, yellow/ blue white |
| Nickname | kcs |
History
Kinsale Community School officially began on 1 August 1996, following the amalgamation of two schools, "Our Lady of the Rosary Secondary School" and "Kinsale Vocational School" with 500 students. The school motto, "Omnes Communiter Discendo"[2] adopted by the first Board of Management, states that we are "All Together in Learning". The school has become known for the successes in the Young Scientist, the Google Science Fair and the European young scientist. However the school is also a strong centre for the students interested in other extra curricular activities.[3]
Development
As of 2013, the school was undergoing an expansion and renovation programme to extend the capacity to an estimated 1,000 students.[4] This was undertaken to cater for an expanding catchment area, and included the development of additional classrooms, a sports hall and canteen. As of 2020, this expansion had been completed.
Academic
The school operates Junior Certificate, Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Applied, and Leaving Certificate courses.
Young Scientist Exhibition
The school first started attending the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in 2002 with a single project and since then has grown to become the leading school in the competition both in number of entrants and awards. Over the past 14 years there have been 180 students from the school displaying at the exhibition and the roll of honour for awards stretches across all categories.
Kinsale is one of only two schools to have won the competition outright three times and is the only school in the country to have more than one set of "Young Scientists" studying there at the same time. The school has received the "Best School in the Republic of Ireland" award three times, in 2012, 2014 and 2020. In addition to the three overall awards, the school has twice had students awarded the Overall Best Group and Overall Runner-up Group. They have also accumulated dozens of category awards and a selection of special prizes.
In 2014, the school had 47 students attending with 25 projects on show. This was the largest group from any school across the country and received nine main awards[5] and an additional seven "highly commended"s. Such was the success of the school that during the awards ceremony Ruairí Quinn, Irish Minister for Education, asked the question "Is Kinsale a place or just a state of mind?".[6]
List of winning projects
| Year | Project | Students | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | A statistical investigation of the effects of Diazotroph bacteria on plant germination | Ciara Judge, Emer Hickey, Sophie Healy-Thow | BT Young Scientist & Technologist's of the Year 2013[7] | Winners of European Young Scientist Exhibition in Prgaue[8] |
| A statistical analysis of the public's awareness of blood sugar levels and their implications on health | James Barry | Special Award – Psychological Society of Ireland[9] Social and Behavioural Junior Individual Winner[10] | ||
| A statistical analysis to investigate the usage of life jackets on commercial fishermen | Marieke Buckley, Mackenzie Cahill | Social and Behavioural Junior Group Winner[10] | ||
| Flat or Not: A statistical study towards the public’s awareness of tyre pressure in motor vehicle | Luke Henderson, Tadhg McCarthy, Paul O Donovan | Social and Behavioural Junior Group 3rd placer[10] | ||
| A scientific study of public attitudes to and awareness of generic medications | Miachaella O Driscoll | Social and Behavioural Individual Junior 3rd placer[10] | ||
| A statistical investigation into consumers’ knowledge of and attitudes towards the rights and laws in place for consumers in Ireland today | Faye Murphy, Fiona O Donovan | Highly Commended[11] | ||
| The development evaluation of a translucent sun visor for automotive use | Sophie Sinclair, Zoe Fennell, Sarah O’ Callaghan | Highly Commended[11] | ||
| The perfect CV: a study of the elements of a curriculum vitae and their impact on employability | Eoin Hurley, Emily McCarthy, Eimear Nyhan | Highly Commended[11] | ||
| Does success breed success and failure breed failure | Sinead Walsh, Micheala O’Connell, Meadhbh O Leary | Highly Commended[11] | ||
| Old school versus new school: A study of the use of tablet technology in the modern classroom | Rachel Lysaght, Sophie Lisson | Highly Commended[11] | ||
| Vegetarianism: A statistical study | Frank Curtin, Kane Curtin, Mia Kovacs | Highly Commended[11] | ||
| A statistical study into the impact of using music and rhythm to memorise academic content | Emily Kellet, Jenny Walsh | Highly Commended[11] | ||
| A comparative study of childhood obesity in Ireland and France | Ciara Manning, Finn Manning, Molly Dunican | Highly Commended[11] | ||
| A statistical study of people's attitudes towards recycling and if these views have changed since the recession | Abigail Jeffrey, Ava O’Connor | Highly Commended[11] | ||
| 2014 | A study using statistical methods of people's attitudes to the ageing workforce of the future | Cathy Hayes, Eve Casey | Best Overall Group & RTÉ Travel Award[5][12] | |
| An investigation of the impact of SSRI's on the Drosphilia melanogaster memory | Michaella O'Driscoll | Biological & Ecological Intermediate Individual 2nd Place[13] | ||
| Lemna minor; is it an effective method of removing persistent inorganic pollutants from aquatic environments? | Eoin Hurley, Emily McCarthy | Biological & Ecological Senior Group 3rd Place[13] | ||
| An analysis of advertising sound levels in the media to statistically determine whether they are aligned with public perceptions | Esha Healy-Thow | Social & Behavioral Junior Individual Winner[13] | ||
| A statistical analysis of people's awareness, knowledge and attitudes regarding dementia | Sorcha Doyle, Saorise Hill | Social & Behavioral Junior Group Winner[13] | ||
| A statistical study into dialects in the Irish Language and their regional variations and the impact it can have on a Junior Cert level student | Aoife, McCarthy, Chloe Condron, Laura Butler | Social & Behavioral Intermediate Group 2nd Place[13] | ||
| An investigation into the effect of food colour on chicken nutrition | Clodagh Butler, Fiona Deasy, Marie Dempsey | Highly Commended[14] | ||
| A study into of the effect of water temperature on the physiological response of open water endurance swimmers | Mia Hayes, Susan Timmons | Highly Commended[14] | ||
| A statistical study on the impact of the horsemeat scandal | Niamh Cronin, Aisling Power | Highly Commended[14] | ||
| Viewing blood vessels with infra red light | Lorcan O'Brien, Neil O'Brien | Highly Commended[14] | ||
| A study to statistically assess current public perceptions and awareness of the health benefits of Omega-3 oils | Alan Healy, Jane Kidney, Laura Murphy | Highly Commended[14] | ||
| A statistical study into parents awareness of the effects of cyber-bullying and the development of an online parent friendly information programme | Caoimhe O'Callaghan, Emma Moriarty | Highly Commended[14] | ||
| A study on the awareness of the symptoms of the condition Carpal Tunnel due to playing or working with modern technology | Sarah O’Callaghan | Highly Commended[14] |
Notable alumni
References
- "Kinsale Community School's winning formula in Young Scientist competition | SouthernStar". Southernstar.ie. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- "Kinsale Community School – Scoil Phobail Chionn tSaile". Kinsalecommunityschool.ie. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- "What makes a great secondary school". Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- Murray, Niall (19 April 2013). "Science success helps fire up school's expansion plan". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- "School scoops nine science gongs". The Irish Independent. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- Healy, Alan (11 January 2014). "Evening Echo – Kinsale top science school". Eveningecho.ie. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- "BT Young Scientist". Btyoungscientist.ie. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- Ralph Riegel – 24 September 2013 (24 September 2013). "Cork teenagers scoop European Young Scientist prize". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- "BT Young Scientist". Btyoungscientist.ie. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- "BT Young Scientist". Btyoungscientist.ie. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- "Kinsale Community School – News Archive". Kinsalecommunityschool.ie. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- "Young Scientist 2014 – special award winners – Education News | Primary, Secondary & Third Level | The Irish Time – Sat, Jan 11, 2014". The Irish Times. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- "Young Scientist 2014 – category winners – Education News | Primary, Secondary & Third Level | The Irish Time – Sat, Jan 11, 2014". The Irish Times. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- "Young Scientist 2014 – highly commended – Education News | Primary, Secondary & Third Level | The Irish Time – Sat, Jan 11, 2014". The Irish Times. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.