Senior cycle is currently undergoing a significant phase of review. Following research and consultation with learners, teachers, management bodies, and many others, a number of areas were prioritised for development and are at various stages of progress. Some of the important features of this work include the development of more flexible programmes of learning, outcomes-based syllabuses for subjects and short courses, the development of key skills and new ways of assessing. Follow the links below to find out more.
Towards Learning - an overview of senior cycle education
The development of new subjects and courses and the review of existing subjects are informed by a vision of creative, confident and actively involved young people who are prepared for a future of learning. Follow this link to read more.
Consultation
Developments at senior cycle have now progressed to a point where a number of draft syllabuses will be ready for consultation over the next eighteen months or so. Follow this link to find out more and have your views heard.
Project Maths
Project Maths is being rolled out in all schools since September 2010.
Politics and Society
A new subject Politics and Society is being finalised following a very successful consultation.
Science Subjects
Syllabuses for Biology, Chemistry and Physics are being reviewed and will be available for consultation later this year.
Physics Education
A new syllabus is being prepared for Physical Education. This will be a new subject for examination. A non-examination curriculum framework is also under development. Both will be available for consultation in 2011.
Other Subjects
Language syllabuses are also undergoing review and committees are currently considering the assessment of the languages.
Short Course
Two sample short courses, Enterprise and Psychology, are now available for consultation.
Flexible Learning Profiles
A group of schools are exploring moreflexible approaches to learning at senior cycle.
Transition Units
A large number of transition units are now available for downloading.
Key Skills
Resource materials have been developed for the embedding of key skills in teaching and learning.
The review of aspects of the Leaving Certificate Applied has commenced.
Making connections
Senior cycle is an important stage of education in its own right, but it is also important that learners experience a smooth transition both into senior cycle from junior cycle and from senior cycle into the world of work and further learning. It is planned to pay particular attention to these two transitions during 2011. As the Junior Cycle Curriculum Framework is developed, the transition from junior cycle to senior cycle will be emphasised.
A joint National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and Higher Education Authority conference on the transition from post-primary school to higher education is planned for April. More details will follow soon.
For more information, follow the links
Senior Cycle Education in Ireland
Working with Schools
Key Skills
Flexible Learning Profiles
Subject, Short Courses and Transition Units
New subject, Politics and Society