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Rathdown School

Senior Cycle

The Leaving Certificate examination is held at the end of the Senior Cycle in post-primary schools.

The Senior Cycle caters for students in the 16 to 18-year-old age group.

We offer 22 academic subjects at Leaving Certificate level.

Students can take up to eight subjects and the results of the best six subjects are considered for points for University entrance through the CAO:

The Core Curriculum is as follows:

  • English
  • Irish (unless an exemption is held)
  • Mathematics

Up to five additional subjects are taken from the following list:

  • Accounting

  • Agricultural Science
  • Applied Maths
  • Art
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Classical Studies 
  • Design & Communication Graphics (DCG)
  • Economics
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • History
  • Home Economics (Social & Scientific)
  • Music
  • Physics
  • Spanish    
  • Leaving Certificate Physical Education (LCPE)         

The following non-exam subjects are also included in the curriculum:

  • Career Guidance
  • Physical Education
  • Social & Personal & Health Education
  • RSE (Relationships & Sexuality Education)