In September 2025, Tranche 1 subjects of Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Business, have seen revised specifications introduced.

Biology https://www.curriculumonline.ie/senior-cycle/senior-cycle-subjects/biology/
AAC Project Guidelines - https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/fc6493fa-f5d7-4c8e-9c82-3fcd268ce1ba/AAC_Guidelines_Biology_Final.pdf

Chemistry https://curriculumonline.ie/senior-cycle/senior-cycle-subjects/chemistry/
AAC Project Guidelines - https://curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/fbcaa25e-596b-4269-a9ed-cdfcd281ee9c/AAC_Guidelines_Chemistry_Final.pdf

Physics https://curriculumonline.ie/senior-cycle/senior-cycle-subjects/physics/
AAC Project Guidelines - https://curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/661fe09e-2b93-4f55-b548-ff87d7e38331/AAC_Guidelines_Physics_Final.pdf

Business https://www.curriculumonline.ie/senior-cycle/senior-cycle-subjects/business/
AAC Project Guidelines - https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/875b16f7-be29-4fc0-acec-42eefcb88f75/AAC_Guidelines_LCBusiness_November-2024_EN.pdf

In September 2026, Tranche 2 subjects of Geography, Physical Education and Life, Community & Work (formerly LCVP) were introduced.

Geography https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/837bf939-b559-4b45-8c94-5590d8710083/SC-Geography-Spec-ENG-INT.pdf
AAC Project Guidelines - https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/e59372b0-ef87-44a4-8db0-bff434e54a29/Guidelines-to-support-the-Applied-Geography-Project.pdf

Physical Education PE https://www.curriculumonline.ie/senior-cycle/senior-cycle-subjects/physical-education-specification/
AAC Project Guidelines - https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/2acfd0b3-f9b4-416c-a711-fd7f6428d8cf/GuidelinesAAC_EN.pdf

LCW (formally known as LCVP) https://curriculumonline.ie/senior-cycle/leaving-certificate-vocational-programme-(lcvp)/
AAC Project Guidelines - https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/f28c9dd5-236d-4336-a7e8-2ce4fd6a0c58/Guidelines-to-complete-the-Portfolio-in-Action-AAC-EN.pdf

Engineering https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/2e897923-e0dc-4f3b-ac42-f8501226c8ab/SC-Engineering-Spec-ENG-INT.pdf
AAC Project Guidelines - https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/1ebe54a8-d8f7-4fb4-ae0f-3d6159e4e175/AAC_Guidelines_Engineering_EN.pdf

Construction studies https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/8a5f525f-b3d4-4d0d-ae60-11fed5c4076c/SC-Construction-Technology-Spec-ENG.pdf
AAC Project Guidelines - https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/237bfb25-4205-4c6f-9e4f-298530e1e603/Guidelines-to-support-the-Additional-Assessment-Components-in-Leaving-Certificate-Construction-Technology.pdf

English ** It is planned that English will be introduced no earlier than 2028.

The remaining subject groups will follow on a phased basis, with the additional tranches scheduled for implementation up to 2029 (see attached document).

Key Competencies video link : https://ncca.ie/en/senior-cycle/senior-cycle-redevelopment/student-key-competencies/

Each of the newly revised subject specifications will include additional assessment components, referred to as AACs. These AACs will account for a minimum of 40% of the total marks available in each subject and will be administered by the State Examinations Commission. They will be conducted independently by students in accordance with guidelines provided by the State Examinations Commission.

In ECC/GC, we are supporting Senior Cycle Redevelopment by:

• Registering teachers for Senior Cycle CPD provided by Oide and highlighting other relevant CPD opportunities to support upskilling.
• Correlating data from Teacher surveys in May in 2025 to enable the SCR coordinator to support teachers and students with any challenges they may encounter in the roll out of each tranche.
• Promotion of senior cycle redevelopment within the school –SCR presentations at staff meetings, SCR Google classroom for teachers, Staff Information Padlet with Senior Cycle resources and SEC documents
• Information Poster of Key Dates of Subject Introduction in Tranches 1 – 5.
• Information Poster of Timeline of Project Completion Dates for Leaving Cert and LCVP students 2026/2027.
• Identifying and supporting present 6th Year students who have 3 or more AAC/Projects through a student tracker in conjunction with subject teachers of these AACS, their yearhead and HSCL.
• Information evening on Senior Cycle for parents of 5th and 6th Years delivered to GC parents in September and one for ECC parents and students planned for before Christmas: subject information leaflets on AACs will also be provided.
• Updating the school website with key Senior Cycle information for parents and students, including links to AAC project guidelines.
• Rollout of Harvard Referencing System as our standardised citation method across the school following on from our initial trial of “Referencing Week” February 2026. Initially prioritising 6th Year and 5th Year students to prepare them for their upcoming AACs in Subject Tranches 1 and 2.  These students will receive guidance on how to use this system of referencing.
• If students in other years are referencing as part of their CBAs/Project Work, they are also asked to use the Harvard Referencing System.  To support students and teachers in this rollout, a Quick Guide to Harvard Referencing document is produced  to be shared with all students and teachers.  Teachers will also receive individual guidance on how to use this system of referencing, if required.
• Development of teachers’ assessment literacy – survey teachers to determine what supports could be provided for them.
• Devising a digital literacy module for TY students to improve their digital literacy skills to prepare them for AACs in Senior Cycle, including referencing and graphing - in progress and in conjunction with the TY Coordinator.
• Teaching and Learning notice board in senior area with key information for 6th Year and 5th Year students (In progress- possibility of a centralised Google Classroom for all senior cycle students due to vast size of the campus)