Minister for Education Norma Foley announced a vision to reform Senior Cycle education in Ireland earlier this year.
The changes are informed by the work of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and its Advisory Report on Senior Cycle Reform.
From September 2023, students will take Leaving Certificate Irish and English Paper 1's at the end of 5th year and the marks for paper 1 will be added to the marks awarded for paper 2, which students will take in the June of 6th year.
The experience of running Orals and Practical Music Examinations at Easter in the last two years will be reviewed, with the hope of running examinations in this way in the future.
Key changes will also include new and revised subjects being developed.
The process of doing this will involve teachers, students and school communities as well as other education experts.
The NCCA will publish a curriculum review by September 2023, setting a plan for new and revised subject curricula to be delivered in annual blocks.
From September 2024, two new subjects will be available for students in network schools. These include Drama, Film and Theatre Studies, and Climate Action and Sustainable Development.
Three science subject curricula (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) and a curriculum for Business will also be ready for introduction to the network schools by September 2024, along with revised curricula in Latin, Ancient Greek and Arabic.
New and revised subjects will be introduced firstly in network schools.
5th year students starting in September 2024 in network schools will be able to take these new and revised subjects in their Leaving Certificate.
From September 2022, students who take the LCA programme will have the opportunity to take Leaving Certificate Mathematics and, where possible, a Leaving Certificate Modern Language.
The changes will mean that should a student need access to LC Mathematics for certain further education options, they will be facilitated while also continuing their LCA programme.
The department will work with employers and other interests to explore improved progression routes for those taking the LCA programme.
In schools providing the LCVP, students starting 5th year in 2022 will be able to take the Link Modules without having to meet the subject-specific criteria.
Further work on Pathways and Flexibilities for LCAS students will also be undertaken.
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