Senior Cycle Redevelopment - What it means for our students
Senior Cycle (or the Leaving Certificate) is changing. Over the coming years, the curriculum (called subject specifications) in every subject students study at Senior Cycle will be changing. The subject content of every Senior Cycle subject will be reviewed and redrafted by subject experts on Subject Development Groups in the NCCA.
Changes to Senior Cycle Subjects:
The first set of revised subjects will be introduced in schools in the 2025/26 school year. These are Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Business, Arabic, Ancient Greek and Latin. (Subjects in bold are run in Dunamase College)
The second set to be revised will be introduced in the 2026/27 school year; Accounting, Construction Studies, Engineering, English, Geography, Physical Education.
Changes to How Students are Assessed:
As subjects are reviewed, each one will include new assessment components that are not a traditional written examination. These new assessment components will be designed to assess students’ skills and key competencies, developed through the study of their chosen subject, in a way that a final written examination cannot.
These components will be called AAC's (Additional Assessment Component) and could, for example, include a research project, oral assessment, performance assessment, portfolio assessment, creation of an artefact, field study, or an experiment/proof of concept/practical investigation. These assessment components will worth at least 40% of the available marks and will be externally assessed by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), not by the subject teacher.
Information on Senior Cycle Redevelopment:
Students and their parents/guardians can access detailed information on how the changes to Senior Cycle will impact students depending on the year a student begins fifth year Here. Parents and guardians are encouraged to access this page to understand how the changes may affect your young person.