Senior Cycle Redevelopment

Senior Cycle ( The Leaving Certificate) is changing. The changes are informed by, and built
upon the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s Advisory Report on the review of
Senior Cycle as well as the experiences of Leaving Certificate students. The changes are
intended to empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century, enrich the student
experience, embed wellbeing and reduce student stress levels. As part of the programme for
senior Cycle Redevelopment, the minister of Education also announced the development of a
revised Transition Year Programme statement, to be introduced in September 2025
Over the coming years, the curriculum in every subject at Senior Cycle will be changing. The
first set of revised subjects will be introduced in schools in the 2025/2026 school year. These
are Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Business. The remaining groups or tranches of
subjects will be introduced on a phased basis. There will be five annual tranches in total. By
2029 all subjects will be revised. Each of the new and revised subject specifications will
incorporate additional assessment components ( called AACs) The AACs will be worth 40
percent of the overall available mark for each subject and will be accessed by the State
Examinations Commission. Please see The Department of Education School notes which
contain further information.

Information Note 1

Information Note 2

Information Note 3