Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In March 2022, I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle where the student is at the centre of their experience which will:

• Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century
• Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system
• Embed wellbeing and reduce student stress levels

The redeveloped Senior Cycle will involve the creation and development of more flexible learning pathways within schools.

My approach to Senior Cycle redevelopment will ensure that the diversity of students’ learning needs and strengths are addressed and that all learning pathways in school are accessible and equally valued.

In the redeveloped Senior Cycle, real opportunities to progress, consolidate and transfer learning should be available for students who can currently access Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes (L1/L2LPs) at Junior Cycle.

At Junior Cycle, most students study a Junior Cycle programme which consists of subjects and short courses that are broadly aligned with Level 3 of the National Framework of Qualifications.

The Level 1 Learning Programmes (L1LPs) and Level 2 Learning Programmes (L2LPs) at Junior Cycle are targeted at a specific group of students who have general learning disabilities in certain categories which prevent them from taking some or all of the subjects or short courses on offer at Level 3. The students concerned are small in number (generally one or two in a typical school) and all have Individual Education Plans (IEPs). The Learning Programmes are built around Priority Learning Units (PLUs) that develop the basic, social and pre-vocational skills of the students involved.

In the context of the Senior Cycle redevelopment programme, I requested the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to develop follow-on programmes for students studying L1/L2LPs in Junior Cycle as they progress to Senior Cycle. As part of this process, the NCCA has recently completed a public consultation on a Background Paper for the development of the follow-on modules for L1/L2LPs.

A Post-Primary Special Education Development Group was established in November 2022 within the NCCA’s structures to develop follow-on Senior Cycle modules for students progressing from Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes at Junior Cycle level.

This development work is progressing well, and it is expected that the development of the first tranche of modules will be completed in time for the planned implementation in schools in September 2024.