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Many guidance counsellors and school leaders have asked the same question when learning about FindMyCollegeCourse:
“Can this be covered under the Free Schoolbooks Scheme?”
The short answer is yes.
The Department of Education guidance states that schools may use funding for digital media support which relates to teaching and learning within curricular requirements.
Because FindMyCollegeCourse is a digital classroom resource, it fits within this framework.
FindMyCollegeCourse is an online course discovery assessment designed specifically for Irish secondary school students who are exploring their CAO options.
Students complete a short online assessment which helps them identify:
Degree courses aligned with their interests
Career areas connected to those courses
CAO options they may not have previously considered
Areas for further exploration
Schools typically use the assessment with:
Transition Year students exploring subject choice
5th Year students beginning CAO exploration
6th Year students refining course choices
As a result, the resource is used directly within guidance classes and the school’s guidance programme, supporting students as they explore educational pathways.
The Schoolbooks Scheme provides funding for student learning resources, and schools have flexibility in how some of this funding is used.
The Department of Education guidance allows schools to purchase digital media that supports teaching and learning within curricular requirements.
Many schools already use this flexibility to purchase online learning platforms and digital classroom tools.
Because FindMyCollegeCourse is:
Delivered online
Used within guidance classes
Designed to support student learning and decision-making
it can be considered a digital classroom resource supporting teaching and learning.
In addition to helping students explore CAO options, FindMyCollegeCourse includes a teacher dashboard designed specifically for guidance counsellors.
The dashboard allows counsellors to view overall student interest areas and course preferences across a class or year group.
This can be particularly useful when preparing for:
Parent–teacher meetings
Student reporting
School self-evaluation
Whole School Guidance planning
Having a clear overview of where students’ interests are developing can help guidance counsellors support students more effectively and identify trends within a year group.
Choosing a CAO course is one of the most important decisions students make during secondary school.
By giving students a structured starting point for exploring courses and career areas, FindMyCollegeCourse helps them approach guidance conversations with greater clarity and confidence.
For schools, it provides a simple digital resource that supports both student exploration and the wider guidance programme.
