Cork students also say YES to success as Presentation College Ballyphehane and GaelCholaiste Mhuire become latest Cork schools to join DPS Group’s Aspire2 School Support Programme

Presentation College Ballyphehane and Gaelcholaiste Mhuire have become the latest Cork schools to join Aspire2, the schools support programme financed and managed by the Irish engineering company DPS Group. This is the 7^th year of the programme and brings to five the number of schools in Cork that are now involved, as well as five other schools in Dublin.

Janice Mc Garry from DPS, who manages Aspire2, said: “We are delighted that Aspire2 continues to grow from strength to strength. The success of the programme is now reflected in the numbers of students progressing to Third Level and Further Education as well as the large numbers of past pupils who have opted to stay involved through our Aspire2 Alumni.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has been very difficult for everybody in the education sector, teachers, pupils and parents alike, with online learning and estimated grades posing a whole new set of challenges. From the feedback we have got from the schools, it seems that Aspire2 has played a significant part in meeting those challenges. It’s also very exciting that DPS has committed another €1 million to fund the maintenance and expansion of the programme”

Commenting on his school’s participation in the Aspire2 programme, Barry O’Shea, Principal of Presentation College, Ballyphehane said: “We’re delighted to be joining the nine other schools in Dublin and Cork already involved in Aspire2.

Donal O’ Buachalla, Principal of Gaelcholaiste Mhuire said: “The wide range of supports available through the programme will be invaluable for our students in helping them to achieve their future goals and supporting them to be whatever they aspire to be”.

Since 2015, more than 1,800 students in Cork and Dublin schools have been assisted by Aspire2 by providing academic support, direct funding and individual mentoring by DPS staff, who have volunteered their time to take part in the programme. “I am also delighted that some of our Aspire2 alumni have set up their own initiative, AweZoom Grinds, to support current students with online grinds and mentoring supports,” Janice McGarry added.

In Cork, DPS is partnered in Aspire2 with University College Cork, Munster Technological University and Rethink Ireland.

Pictured left to right: Breda Murphy, Aspire2 Student Support Worker, DPS Group, Jack ó Scannláin, Alison Ní Éalaithe (students) and Meghan Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh, Teacher at Gaelcholaiste Mhuire.

Pictured left to right: Deputy Principal Gillian Murphy, Presentation College Ballyphehane, Leah Punch, Leanna Kirby, Mira Dean (students) and Breda Murphy, Aspire2 Student Support Worker, DPS Group

Further information

Janice McGarry, Aspire2 Manager,

DPS Group

Email: janice.mcgarry@dpsgroupglobal.com

Mobile: +353 (0) 85 181 0931