Secondary education in Ireland
Secondary education in Ireland aims to build on the foundation of primary education to provide a comprehensive, high quality learning environment to enable all students to live full lives and to realise their potential as individuals and citizens.
The secondary-level education sector comprises secondary, vocational, community and comprehensive schools. All of these schools provide the Certificate courses prescribed by the Department of Education and Science, enter their students for the same national examinations and are subject to inspection by the Department.
The junior cycle
Second-level education in Ireland generally starts at the age of twelve and consists of a three-year junior cycle followed by a two or three year senior cycle. The Junior Certificate Examination is taken at the end of Junior cycle.
The senior cycle
The Senior cycle has been significantly restructured in recent years and now offers a "transition year" which provides an opportunity for students to experience a wide range of educational inputs, life skills and work experience at a remove from the examination focus.
Students must take a minimum of five subjects including core subjects of English and Mathematics. Students can then choose their other subjects from a broad range including arts, languages, science and other applied subjects (e.g. mechanical drawing, woodwork etc.). Students entering the Irish education system after 11 years of age are not obliged to take Irish language examinations.
At the end of the senior cycle, the Leaving Certificate Examination is taken. Students normally sit for this examination at seventeen or eighteen years of age.
The school year
- The school year usually starts on the last Monday of August and ends on the last Friday of May.
- There is an October mid-term break, where all schools close for the week commencing on the last Monday of October.
- Schools close a few days before December 25 for the Christmas holidays and re-open in early January.
- There is a mid-term break in February: all schools close for the third week in February.
- All schools close for the week preceding Easter Sunday (Holy Week) and for the week after Easter Sunday (Easter Week).
Our secondary education programmes
We offer two secondary education programmes for Ireland. Students normally commence participation at the end of August or the beginning of January. Follow the links below to read more about
For shorter summer courses in Ireland, please see our summer school page.