CTA FAQ’s

TEACHING METHOD

Are your Second Level courses run according to the school syllabus?
Yes. Our courses are developed based on the school syllabus. However, these courses do not replace or interfere with regular school work, rather they supplement and enhance school learning

How many students are in class?
All of our second level Booster Courses and Language programmes (Foreign language & Sign Language) require a minimum of 10 registrants in order to take place. Whilst we expect to reach this minimum in all courses, in the event that there are not enough participants registered by the Sunday evening before the first day of the course, we reserve the right to cancel the course and process a full refund of ‘fees paid’ to the student/parent! The maximum number of students for the Kids beginners language classes is 10, for the Adults language programmes it’s 12. For the English (IELTS) the maximum number of students is 16. For the second level 6/8 week ‘booster/revision’ courses the maximum number of students per class is 10 students.

Who are the Tutors?
Our tutors are experienced both in academia and industry, qualified and fully vetted. All our teachers are handpicked because of their experience and reputation as well as their friendly and helpful approach to their students.

How does the Tutor assess a students’ progress?
All courses will be streamed according to ability. Tutors will deliver the lessons in a clear and logical presentation. Homework is given and corrected each week and tests are given to students on a regular basis to assess their levels of understanding and application. Feedback is provided to parents in the form of regular reports and/or a phone call (or meeting) if the Tutor deems necessary.

Is there homework?
Yes, homework is given and corrected every week and students are expected to complete assignments on time and submit it either at each class or via email. Students will be advised as to how much time should be spent weekly to maximise the benefit of the course. Homework is an extension of the class but also forms an essential part of the learning process.

Are there tests?
Yes, tests are given on a regular basis. Tests and homework are essential when it comes to monitoring a student’s progress.

My son/daughter cannot attended the course.  Can we buy the notes?
No. Teaching is a central part of all our courses. The notes are to facilitate recall and revision of the day’s work covered by the teacher.

CLASS SCHEDULE

When do classes take place?
All our classes run from Monday to Saturday, usually after school hours, generally from 4:30pm-9:30pm for Second level courses run during the week. From January – June each year we do run second level revision courses on Sundays generally from 10am-6pm. On Saturdays classes run from 9am-6pm. Each second level group class is 80 minutes duration. Each Beginners Language class (Adults/Kids) is 60 mins duration. Please contact us for more specific details at info@clonmeltuitionacademy.ie or view our class Timetables here.

Is there a place I can get lunch?
Yes, we have a small Kitchenette onsite with tea/coffee facilities and a water station. Also, we are centrally located on Gladstone street, Clonmel. Therefore, locally there are many coffee-shops, restaurants and shops within walking distance.

Will the class schedule change?
If the Academy postpones a class due to unforeseen circumstances, we will do our best to inform students of the change in advance and will schedule a make-up lesson. The Academy reserves the right to change the course timings and the teaching staff in the midst of course curriculum as and when is required. We will do our best to inform students of any such changes in advance.

What should I do if I miss a lesson?
Students are encouraged to attend all lessons/classes consistently. Should the student miss a scheduled lesson/class, they should advise the Academy as soon as possible. There will be no refund or pro-rating of course fees for missed lessons, regardless of reasons for absence, not owing to the Academy’s fault. However, students will still receive homework assignments and any class handouts for the missed lesson.

Can I join a course that has already started?
If a course you wish to join has started, it may still be possible to join, for the language programmes and the second level programmes. We can arrange catch-up notes to cover what you have missed (included in the full course fee). However, we do not advise joining after the second lesson. Please contact the Academy if you wish to join after the official start date.

Is the Academy closed on Public Holidays and School Holidays?
Clonmel Tuition Academy follows the same academic year as the government run schools. However, we do continue to run classes during the Mid-Term breaks and certain courses during the main holiday breaks. The following is CTA Academic Calendar for 2018-2019:

FEES

Does a ‘deposit paid’ secure my place onto a course/workshop/seminar?

A ‘deposit paid’ secures your place onto a course/workshop/seminar, it does not guarantee admission to the course/workshop/seminar. In order to gain full admission to any of our courses/workshops/seminars, fees need to be paid in full prior to the course/workshop/seminar start date. In the case of staged payments, the initial payment needs to be paid in full. Part of the reason for this is that for many of our courses, the full course ‘Book of notes’ is handed out in the first lesson. We reserve the right to refuse admission to any student who has not paid the fees/initial staged payment in full prior to the start date of the course/workshop/seminar.

Are there other fees that need to be paid at the point of registration?
There is no registration fee for any of our programmes. For all courses/programmes however there is a deposit to be paid upon registration to secure your place. This deposit will be deducted from the last (month fees)/final payment.

When are fees collected?
For all programmes fees will be collected upon registration onto each course. A deposit is required upon enrolment to secure your place on the course, the balance of fees is to be paid on or before the course start date. Whilst there are 33 weeks in the academic year, spread over 9 months, students can join the Supervised Study programmes at any time and fees will be adjusted accordingly. It is not possible to join any of the Language classes or Leaving Cert. Revision/Booster courses mid-course after the first class. Payment of all fees is by cash; cheque; EFT; Standing Order, Paypal or online. You can now avail of contactless payment. Please note that by registering online and/or by signing the enrolment form you confirm that you have read and understood the rules, Terms & Conditions of CTA and that you agree to abide by them.

Are the course materials included in the course fees?
Worksheets/handouts that are required for use during any of our programmes are included in the course fees. The fees do not cover any recommended textbooks/workbooks. Please see the outlines for each course in relation to any required materials not covered in the fees.

What if a student joins the Supervised Study programme in the middle of the month?
Fees for students who join after the start of the month will be pro-rated based on the number of remaining sessions in the month of registration.

What if a student decides to stop in the middle of a course?
For all language programmes (Adults & Kids), all fees are paid in advance, upon enrolment. For any of the 10 week language courses (Kids/Adults) and the Sign language courses full payment is required prior to the start date of the course. For the English Language (IELTS) & Supervised Study programmes there is a staged payment option. Unfortunately, there will be no refunds for students who decide to opt-out of any of these courses mid-course. This is due partly because of the costs involved in running the courses and also to be fair to the students already enrolled on the course and those on the ‘wait list’. Whilst these courses are designed to be fun and engaging, particularly the Kids language classes, there is an academic element involved. It is strongly advised to parents and students that if you (or your child) feel that you are likely to opt-out of any of our language classes mid-course that you reconsider registering in the first instance to be fair to the tutor and the students/children on our ‘wait lists’. Whilst every effort is made to make the kids language classes fun and exciting, it is important to remember that Clonmel Tuition Academy is an educational institute and therefore there is an academic element to the programmes we offer including the kids language courses. For any of the 8-10 week European language programmes, the English (IELTSp prep) course and the Sign Language programmes, you can cancel your registration 14 working days prior to the course start date to get a full refund of fees paid.

For the Supervised Study programmes one months notice in writing is required to opt-out of the programme for a refund of remaining fees paid. For the Intensive Revision/Booster courses and the Mock Oral courses you can cancel your enrolment and get a full refund of fees up to 14 days prior to the course start date. For any of our Business/Career Guidance workshops and Study skills seminars you can cancel registration 14 working days prior to the workshop/seminar start date for a full refund of fees paid.

My son/daughter is unwell and cannot attend a course/the remainder of a course we have paid for.  Can I have a refund?
No, there are no refunds given in this instance. However, if you write a short letter of explanation, at the discretion of management, a credit note may be put on the student’s file for future use or for use by a sibling.

CTA Management Team, September 2018