Guidelines to support the assessment of the Senior Cycle Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes have been published.
The guidelines, produced by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), in collaboration with the State Examinations Commission (SEC), provide teachers with information on assessment for certification of the Senior Cycle Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes. The programmes were introduced in 2024, and the first cohort of students will now be assessed following their two-years of study.
The introduction of the programmes in 2024 marked a significant milestone for education in Ireland, providing a follow-on programme at Senior Cycle for students studying at Level 1 and Level 2 at Junior Cycle. The programmes are tailored to the individual needs of the students and prepare them for life beyond school.
Evidence of learning and achievement of these programmes will be gathered in a portfolio which will underpin the internal and external assessment and validation.
The State Examinations Commission has opened its Senior Cycle L1 and L2 Schools Portal, enabling schools with eligible students to register them. This is the first step in the process that will lead to their students' achievements being certified this summer.
Welcoming the publication of the guidelines, Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton said:
“I am delighted to welcome the publication of the assessment guidelines. These guidelines provide schools and teachers with all the information needed to ensure that their students, after two-years of commitment and determination, will receive a certificate.
“I know that schools across the country, both mainstream and special, will welcome this further clarity. Schools who were among the first to roll-out the programmes should be immensely proud of the work they have done to ensure their students have access to a programme that suits their own individual needs and empowers them to display their talents and abilities.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the NCCA, as well as the SEC, for their hard work in preparing these guidelines.”
Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan said:
“I welcome the publication of guidelines to support the assessment of Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes at Senior Cycle. As Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, I know how important these guidelines are to school communities as they prepare their students in the final months of sixth year.
“It is vital that we mark the progress and achievements of these young people. I am delighted that this summer, students who undertook modules as part of these programmes will receive certification from the SEC, alongside their peers.”
