INCA Education around the world
Ireland : Internal school organisation
4.4.1 Organisation of teaching groups
4.4.2 Student progression through the phase
4.4.3 Class size
4.4.4 Teacher specialisation
4.4 Fourth phase: Upper secondary, age 15 - 17/18
[see 3.2.4]
4.4.1 Organisation of teaching groups
As a rule, students in senior cycle classes are grouped by age and in accordance with the Leaving Certificate course/subjects they are following.10 (See sections 5.4 and 6.4 for further information.)
4.4.2 Student progression through the phase
This phase is divided into a Transition Year, followed by a two-year Leaving Certificate course. Around 40 per cent of schools offer a Transition Year programme. In others, only two-year Leaving Certificate programmes (the established Leaving Certificate, the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP), and the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), see sections 5.4. and 6.4. in addition) are offered.9
Teachers administer tests during the year and students progress automatically in other than exceptional circumstances. External examinations are taken at the end of the two-year-cycle or at various stages during the two-year programme in the case of the LCA. Assessment for the established Leaving Certificate and the LCVP is based on written and, where appropriate, practical examinations. All three qualifications prepare students either for employment or for further or higher education.10
As in the junior cycle, the Department of Education's stated wish is that students should advance to a higher class at the end of the school year. Exemptions are sanctioned in special circumstances. However, the increased variety of provision at senior cycle means that a student could repeat a year but in a different senior cycle course.10
4.4.3 Class size
The maximum, government-recommended class size has been 30 since 1 September 1999.9For practical subjects, the maximum recommended class size is 24.36
4.4.4 Teacher specialisation
As the curriculum in senior cycle education is subject-centred, the vast majority of teachers in post-primary schools are subject specialists. Teachers usually hold a Bachelor degree in the specialist subject. Teachers in voluntary secondary schools also complete a one-year Higher Diploma in Education, but this is not a requirement for teachers in vocational schools, community schools and comprehensive schools. Pre-service training and subsequent in-career development for teachers are usually focused on developing and enhancing expertise in the teaching of particular subjects. Teachers are employed by the school but are classed as public servants.36
Generally, teachers at Leaving Certificate (see 3.2.4) stay with their subject and classes for the two years of the programme. Where changes of teachers occur it is usually due to timetable reasons.36
