Joe’s Jotter: Subject Changes for your Child in Senior Cycle

Topics: Maths

Sources: ACE Maths Tuition

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Joe’s Jotter: Subject Changes for your Child in Senior Cycle

ACE Maths Tuition - Joe McCormack

Joe’s Jotter: Subject Changes for your Child in Senior Cycle

Dear Parents,

Today’s newsletter updates you on changes for your child in 5th and 6th Year this September (2026). It is also very relevant to those with a child entering 1st, 2nd, 3rd or TY, as these phased changes will be in place once your child reaches 5th year (Senior Cycle).

As detailed below, all Senior Cycle subjects will soon have an Additional Assessment Component (AAC) — essentially a project — introduced in Tranches (see below) and carrying a weighting of 40%. The Exam at the end of 6th Year will be worth the remaining 60%, once the Tranche for that subject has been phased in.

If your child commenced studying the following subjects in 5th Year last September (2025) — (Tranche 1) Business, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Arabic, Latin, or Ancient Greek — the changes to these subjects have already been applied. As above, continuous assessment will comprise 40% of their results, while the sit-down exam paper(s) in June of their 6th Year will comprise the other 60%. These are the Tranche 1 changes, and they will be examined for the first time in June 2027.

Tranche 2 subjects for incoming 5th years in 26/27 are ongoing this September (2026): Construction Studies, Engineering, Geography, LCVP Link Modules and PE. These subjects will be examined for the first time in June 2028.

Tranche 3 will then follow in September 2027 (those in TY now or 3rd years skipping TY next year) will be affected by these, as well as all Tranche 1 and 2 changes above). The subjects in Tranche 3 are Accounting, English, Ag Science, Computer Science, DCG, History, Home Ec, Music, Physics and Chemistry (PhysChem) and MATHS. These subjects will be examined for the first time in June 2029.

Tranche 4 starting in Sept 2028 (for 5th years) will include the changes in Art, Economics, French, Irish, German, Italian, Politics and Society, Spanish and Technology. These subjects will be examined for the first time in June 2030.

Tranche 5 in Sept 2029 will include changes to all remaining subjects.

That is the plan as we speak, although subject implementation may be delayed for various reasons. Curriculum specifications will be available for all subjects before they commence.

Feel free to forward this Information to any other Secondary School Parents who may be affected. Just keeping you up to date really (Might be an idea to print this also).

Email me back if you need anything clarified or let me know what you think....

Hope you're having a great start to the Academic Year…
Joe.
ACE Maths Tuition.

P.S. As you can see, Maths is in Tranche 3, so we are looking forward to seeing what content will be retained/removed from the Leaving Cert syllabus, as well as what continuous assessment projects (AAC) will be available to students.

I have provided input to the Dept on how Maths should be altered and will inform you once I know how it is panning out.

Press to Enrol for ACE Maths Programmes (September 2026)