The Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, today 20 September 2023, announces an updated programme for Senior Cycle Redevelopment.

Today’s announcement will see an acceleration to the Minister’s ambitious programme for Senior Cycle Reform.

In 2025, students will benefit from the earlier rollout of nine new and revised subjects  including Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Business — two years earlier than previously planned.

Part of these transformative developments include the introduction of the two new Senior Cycle subjects of Drama, Film and Theatre Studies, and Climate Action and Sustainable Development.

Each of this first tranche of new subject specifications will incorporate externally assessed components that are not a traditional written examination. These components will be externally assessed by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).

There will be a second tranche of revised subjects in 2026 with further tranches to be introduced annually after that.

Minister Foley said: “The student experience has always been central to the redevelopment of the Senior Cycle. Over the past two years I have visited hundreds of schools and listened to the experiences and feedback from Leaving Certificate classes and it was unanimous that what our students want and need is for broader choice, reduced pressure and they want it now.

“Since my initial announcement in 2022, there has been significant progress towards meeting these challenges. This has included important and extensive research, establishment of Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme Delivery Board and Senior Cycle Redevelopment Partners’ Forum, and convening Subject Development Groups.”

“Today I am pleased to announce that I am accelerating the development of new and revised specifications in nine subjects together with work to develop externally assessed components in each subject that are not a traditional written examination.”

“This will ensure that a student’s overall result will not be determined by their performance on one day in June.

“I am amending implementation timelines to better serve a greater number of our students. In this new phase of the programme, there will an accelerated national roll-out of the revised subject specifications for the seven existing Leaving Certificate established subjects within Tranche One in September 2025, two years sooner than previously announced.”

“Each tranche that follows will be rolled out nationally on an annual basis, ensuring further renewal at a greater pace.”

“September 2025 will also see the introduction of two new subjects – Drama, Film and Theatre Studies, and Climate Action and Sustainable Development, on a phased basis.”

“Over the past two years I have listened to the views of our students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders.

“I am particularly conscious of the more recent accelerated evolution and growth in generative AI and I understand there is a need to explore the opportunities afforded by these developments in an educational context, as well as the challenges they might present.

“With that in mind I have asked the SEC that further research would be commissioned on the potential role and impact of generative artificial intelligence in teacher-based assessment in particular.

“While this work is ongoing I have decided to progress additional and practical components which that will be externally assessed by the SEC.

“I look forward to working collaboratively with our partners across the education sector to achieve our shared vision of excellence and equity, and enriching our student’s experience, in line with Senior Cycle Redevelopment.”

In 2022, the Minister set out an ambitious programme for the redevelopment of Senior Cycle, guided by the vision of a Senior Cycle that delivers “equity and excellence for all.”

The programme is informed by, and builds upon, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NCCA) advisory report on the review of Senior Cycle, as well as the experience of Leaving Certificate students, a growing demand for change and international experience and perspectives.

Subject Development Groups have convened for the two new Leaving Certificate subjects of Drama, Film and Theatre Studies, and Climate Action and Sustainable Development, and the current Leaving Certificate Subject of Business, while the Groups for the remaining subjects in the first tranche have reconvened.

Leaving Certificate Applied students have gained improved access to Leaving Certificate Established in Mathematics and Modern Foreign Languages, while students in schools offer LCVP are now able to access the link modules without meeting the subject specific criteria, or the modern European language requirements.

Additionally, there has been substantial engagement with education stakeholders, including representatives of students, teachers, parents, school leadership, management bodies, and subject experts.

Progress has been made through the establishment of the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme Delivery Board and Senior Cycle Redevelopment Partners’ Forum, and the completion of research commissioned by the NCCA and the SEC in relation to the weighting, composition, and moderation of teacher-based assessment components.

Recognising this progress and positive engagement whilst acknowledging the emerging challenges and learnings from other areas, the Minister now wishes to take a number of steps. These steps will deliver revised subject curricula sooner than previously planned.

ENDS

Notes

Progress to date

·       Subject background papers have been prepared, public consultations completed, and Subject Development Groups have convened for the two new Leaving Certificate subjects Drama, Film and Theatre Studies, and Climate Action and Sustainable Development, and for revisions to the current Leaving Certificate subject of Business;

·       Subject Development Groups for the remaining subjects in the first tranche (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Arabic, Latin, and Ancient Greek) have reconvened;

·       Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) students have had improved access to Leaving Certificate Established (LCE) Mathematics and Modern Foreign Languages since September 2022, broadening the options for LCA;

·       Students in schools that offer LCVP are now able to access LCVP link modules without meeting subject specific criteria, or the modern European language requirements;

·       A Post-Primary Special Education Development Group has been established within the NCCA’s structures to develop follow-on Senior Cycle modules for students progressing from Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes at Junior Cycle level;

·       A background paper and brief for the review and revision of the Transition Year Programme Statement was prepared, and a public consultation on this paper is currently underway, and expected to be completed in late October;

·       There has been significant engagement with education stakeholder groups, including representatives of students, teachers, parents, school leadership, management bodies, and subject experts; and

·       Oral examinations in language subjects have been held during the school Easter period.

·       The Minister established the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme Delivery Board, and the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Partners’ Forum;

·       A new Senior Cycle Board was convened within NCCA structures;

·       Research was commissioned by the NCCA and the SEC in relation to the weighting, composition, and moderation of teacher-based assessment components, with this research now complete and was submitted to the Minister in July 2023;

·       A detailed paper on the Technical Form of Curriculum Specifications has been approved by the NCCA Council. The paper will provide a template for how the curriculum/specification in each revised subject is presented;

·       The Minister has asked the NCCA to urgently present a schedule setting out the phases or tranches over which all subjects will be revised in line with approach outlined above.