NCCA advises the Minister for Education on curriculum and assessment for early childhood education, for primary and post-primary schools. As part of the broader redevelopment of senior cycle, it is envisaged that a revised specification for Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science will be introduced in schools from September 2027. The Development Group for Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science will have a key role in this work. The group includes nominees of the education partners and other key education agencies.
Below you will find information on the subject development work including the background paper and brief for the review for this subject, and a note from each of the development group meetings.
Current Stage
Stage 7
Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
The public consultation on the draft Curriculum Specification opens between 9 February and 17 April.Subject Timeline
This timeline shows all the steps involved in the development of this subject specification. It indicates which stages have already been completed, which stages are yet to be undertaken and which stage is currently the active stage.
Stage 7 - Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
Subject Timeline
School visits completed
NCCA has visited a number of schools as part of the work in gathering feedback on the current curriculum and potential future developments.
Stage 7 - Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
Subject Timeline
Development Group convened
The Development Group was convened on 30 September, 2024 and is due to complete its work by September, 2027.
Stage 7 - Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
Subject Timeline
Background Paper and Brief published
The Background Paper and Brief is published online following discussion at Board and approval by Council. It informs the work of the Development Group and also contains national and international research, including interviews with school management, subject teachers and students in a selection of schools.
Stage 7 - Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
Subject Timeline
Consultation on BGP and Brief
The public consultation on the Background Paper and Brief opened between 6 January and 28 February, 2025.
10 Oct 2025 - 30 Nov 2025
Stage 7 - Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
Subject Timeline
Report on Consultation on BGP and Brief
The report on the Background Paper and Brief is published following discussion at the Board and approval by Council and is published online.
Stage 7 - Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
Subject Timeline
Draft Curriculum Specification developed and published
Guided by the Brief for their work and feedback from the consultation on the Background Paper, the Development Group prepare a draft curriculum specification. The Draft Curriculum Specification is published following discussion at Board and approval by Council.
Stage 7 - Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
Subject Timeline
Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
The public consultation on the draft Curriculum Specification opens between 9 February and 17 April.
9 Feb 2026 - 17 Apr 2026
Stage 7 - Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
Subject Timeline
Report on Consultation on Draft Curriculum Specification
The Report on the Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification has been approved by both the Board and Council and is published online. The Development Group use the findings from the Report on the Draft Specification to finalise the Specification.
Stage 7 - Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
Subject Timeline
Final Curriculum Specification approved by Council
The final Curriculum Specification is discussed by the Board and approved by Council before it can be sent to the Minister of Education and Youth for final approval.
Stage 7 - Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
Subject Timeline
Ministerial approval and publication
The specification has been approved by the Minister and is available on curriculumonline.ie
Stage 7 - Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
Subject Timeline
Guidelines to support the Additional Assessment Component published
The AAC Guidelines are developed by NCCA in conjunction with the State Examinations Commission and supported by the Department of Education and Youth, Oide and teacher focus groups.
Stage 7 - Consultation on the Draft Curriculum Specification
Consultation on draft specification
The Draft Specification for Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science has been approved for public consultation.
The consultation period runs from Monday the 9th of February until Friday the 17th of April 2026.
The consultation involves in-depth engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders across Ireland. NCCA have also contacted schools to participate in school-based focus groups involving teachers, students and school leaders.
We invite you to get involved and have your say on the draft specification.
If you are responding as an individual (teacher/parent/student/leader/teacher educator/lecturer/researcher) please complete the online survey.
If you are responding on behalf of an organisation, please complete the online submission form and return to scconsultations@ncca.ie before Friday 17th April at 5pm.
Attend the consultation event
Apply to attend the consultation event on Friday 20th March 2026 at The Limerick Strand Hotel, Limerick. Applications close on Friday 27th February and places are limited. Attendees will be contacted by email after the applications close.
The feedback from this consultation will help to inform the work of the Development Group for Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science in refining the draft specification prior to final approval and publication.
Draft Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science Specification
The first step in the redevelopment of Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science was the development of a Background paper and brief for the review of the subject.
A public consultation on the Background paper and brief took place from 6 January 2025 to 28 February 2025 and a report on the consultation was published in May 2025.
- Report on the consultation on the background papers and briefs for the review of tranche 3 subjects.
The development group for Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science was convened on September 30th, 2024, and will progress the development of a new specification guided by the brief and the findings of the consultation on the Background paper.
Short descriptions of meetings that have taken place so far can be accessed below.
- Meeting 1 - 30th September 2024
- Meeting 2 - 16th October 2024
- Meeting 3 - 8th November 2024
- Meeting 4 - 4th December 2024
- Meeting 5 - 13th January 2025
- Meeting 6 - 11th February 2025
- Meeting 7 - 12th March 2025
- Meeting 8 - 9th April 2025
- Meeting 9 - 12th & 13th May 2025
- Meeting 10 - 10th September 2025
- Meeting 11 – 9th October 2025
- Meeting 12 – 4th November 2025
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Meeting 13 – 3rd and 4th December 2025
Following an initial consultation on a Background Paper in Nov-Dec 2014 and a Consultation Report in March 2015, a draft specification for Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science has been developed.
Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science aims to enable learners to:
- appreciate the natural environment and human interactions with it and the sustainable use of its resources, recognising the need for a rational and balanced approach to the exploitation of these resources in a local and global context
- recognise the need for, and global importance of, relevant strategies and policies for the agri‐food industry and identify opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship in the context of local, regional and world markets
- develop their scientific knowledge and skills, in the context of agricultural practices, and increase their awareness of health and safety issues associated with these practices.
The consultation report and the background paper can be accessed by following the links below.
- Background Paper and Brief for Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science
- Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science: Consultation report on background paper
The Agricultural Science Development Group consists of the nominees from a range of education stakeholders including teacher and management bodies, Department of Education and Skills, and the State Examinations Commission.
The Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science: Draft Specification is available here.
Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science: Draft Specification for consultation.