Minister Bruton Announces Grants for Schools to Support Rollout of Leaving Certificate Physical Education and Computer Science
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From: Department of Education
- Published on: 23 July 2018
- Last updated on: 27 September 2019
The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, today (23rd of July 2018) announced that the 40 schools taking part in Phase 1 of the new Leaving Certificate Computer Science subject and 64 schools taking part in Phase 1 of the new Leaving Certificate Physical Education subject will receive a grant to support them in implementing the new subjects from September 2018.
Making the announcement, Minister Bruton said:
“Today’s announcement underlines my commitment to the introduction of Computer Science and Physical Education as Leaving Certificate subjects."
“I am keen during my time as Minister to make sure that our education system keeps pace with our changing society and the evolving needs of our economy. We know how important it is to be physically active and engage in sports, not only for our physical health but also as a means to encourage team building, develop confidence and for our mental health. The introduction of Physical Education as a full examinable Leaving Certificate subject reflects the priority this government puts on promoting healthy lifestyles and choices."
“The introduction of Computer Science as a Leaving Certificate subject is part of our ambition to make Ireland a STEM leader among our European colleagues. The grants being issued to schools, from this September will complement other recent grants given to schools to support them in embedding digital technology in teaching and learning - €30m in ICT grants was provided to all schools recently, building on the €30m which we issued last year. We have committed to a €150m investment in ICT infrastructure over the next 3 years.”
The 40 schools who will offer Computer Science for Leaving Certificate for September will each receive €3,000 towards the purchase of connector devices, totalling €120,000 in grants for these schools.
Schools offering Leaving Certificate Physical Education will receive a grant towards the purchase of digital devices for use by students in completing the course assessment components and for hardware required for central uploading of material. A grant of €350 per digital device will be payable, with one device for every two students commencing the subject in September 2018. A payment of €750 per school will be made for the uploading hardware. The total amount of grant payments for the subject will be approximately €330,000 across the 64 schools.
In addition to the above digital supports, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) has prepared a comprehensive continuous professional development (CPD) programme to support the implementation of these new Leaving Certificate subjects. The CPD programmes which commenced earlier this year and will continue over the coming two years, will support the introduction and embedding of these new subjects. The PDST also provides professional support for the school leaders of these 104 schools towards assisting them to facilitate the effective introduction and implementation of these new subjects in their schools.
The Minister said:
“With these additional grants, and the comprehensive teacher professional development we are providing, the teachers and schools offering these new subjects from this September will be fully prepared to deliver these new subjects over the next two years. It is also interesting that these new subjects will be the first Leaving Certificate subjects since the introduction of Design and Communication Graphics to incorporate digital technologies into their assessment. The experience of these two new subjects will inform both the national rollout of these subjects but also, the possibility of incorporating digital technology more widely in the assessment of other subjects.”
The €450,000 in grant payments are being made this year on a once-off basis to assist the Phase 1 schools’ preparations for the introduction of the new subjects from this September. Schools wishing to introduce these new subjects from September 2020 as part of their national rollout should ensure they have the required ICT equipment in time. They can in this regard deploy some of the ICT Infrastructure grants paid to schools under the Digital Strategy for Schools towards this purpose. Details on the specifications of the ICT devices required will be communicated to schools.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor:
Leaving Certificate Physical Education
The specification for Leaving Certificate Physical Education (LCPE) will provide learners with an opportunity to study physical education for the Leaving Certificate examination, providing an additional optional Leaving Certificate subject.
The specification is presented in two strands.
Strand 1 Topics:
- learning and improving skill and techniques
- physical and psychological demands of performance
- structures, strategies, roles and conventions
- planning for optimum performance
Strand 2 Topics:
- promoting physical activity
- ethics and fair play
- physical activity and inclusion
technology, media and sport
There are three assessment components in LCPE:
- physical activity project – 20%
- performance assessment – 30%
- written examination – 50%
The 64 schools announced previously will begin studying the examinable subject from this September. 80 schools in total will implement either the examinable Physical Education Leaving Certificate subject or the new Senior Cycle Physical Education Framework which is not for examination, or both.
The digital devices will be used for the completion of the physical activity project and performance assessment components of the examinable subject.
Leaving Certificate Physical Education Phase 1 Schools
| School Name | Address |
| Wesley College | Ballinteer Dublin 16 |
| John The Baptist Community School | Hospital Co Limerick |
| St. Mary's Secondary School | Convent of Mercy Ballina Co Mayo |
| Colaiste Chraobh Abhann | Creowen Kilcoole Co Wicklow |
| St Louis Secondary School | Dun Lughaidh Dundalk Co Louth |
| Glanmire Community College | Glanmire Co. Cork |
| Scoil Chriost Ri | Presentation Secondary School Portlaoise Co Laois |
| Castleknock Community College | Carpenterstown Road Castleknock Dublin 15 |
| Abbey Community College | Boyle Co Roscommon |
| Carndonagh Community School | Carndonagh Lifford Co Donegal |
| Kinsale Community School | Kinsale Co Cork |
| Mount Anville Secondary School | Mount Anville Rd Dublin 14 |
| Oatlands College | Mount Merrion Co Dublin |
| Dominican College | Griffith Ave Drumcondra Dublin 9 |
| Coláiste Choilm | Ballincollig Co. Cork |
| Villiers Secondary School | North Circular Road Limerick |
| Trinity Comprehensive School | Ballymun Road Dublin 9 |
| Abbey Vocational School | The Glebe Donegal Town Co.Donegal |
| Le Cheile Secondary School | Hollystown Road Tyrellstown Dublin 15 |
| Moville Community College | Carrownaff Moville Co Donegal |
| Coláiste Cois Life | Gleann an Ghrífín Leamhcán Co Átha Cliath |
| Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh | Meal Sior Anraí Luimneach |
| Colaiste Mhuire | Askeaton Co Limerick |
| Borris Vocational School | Borris Co Carlow |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S. | Collins Avenue Ext Whitehall Dublin 9 |
| Belvedere College S.J | 6 Great Denmark Street Dublin 1 |
| St Marys College | Rathmines Dublin 6 |
| Our Lady Of Mercy College | Beaumont Dublin 9 |
| St. Leo's College | Dublin Road Carlow |
| St Kieran's College | Secondary School College Rd Kilkenny |
| Coláiste Naomh Mhuire | Convent Of Mercy Sallins Rd. Naas Co Kildare |
| Woodbrook College | Woodbrook Bray Co Wicklow |
| St. Joseph's Secondary School | Spanish Point Milown Malbay Co Clare |
| Christian Brothers College | Sidney Hill Wellington Road Cork. |
| Scoil Mhuire Secondary School | St. Oran's Road Buncrana Co. Donegal |
| St Eunan's College | Letterkenny Co Donegal |
| Loreto College | Mullingar Co Westmeath |
| Coláiste Bride | Enniscorthy Co Wexford |
| St. Mary's Secondary School | Irishtown New Ross Co Wexford |
| Presentation Secondary School | Grogan's Road Wexford Co. Wexford |
| Sacred Heart Secondary School | Sunnyside Drogheda Co Louth |
| St Mary's College | Nicholas Street Dundalk Co Louth |
| St. Macartan's College | Monaghan Co. Monaghan |
| Rockwell College | Cashel Co Tipperary |
| The Abbey School | Station Road Co. Tipperary |
| Virginia College | Virginia Co Cavan |
| Beaufort College | Trim Rd Navan Co. Meath |
| Maria Immaculata Community College | Dunmanway Co Cork |
| Ratoath College | Jamestown Ratoath Co. Meath |
| Coláiste Íde Agus Iosaef | Abbeyfeale Co Limerick |
| Creagh College | Carnew Road Gorey Co. Wexford |
| Newpark Comprehensive School | Newtown Park Avenue Blackrock Co. Dublin |
| Scoil Phobail Chuil Mhin | Cluain Saileach Baile Atha Cliath 15 |
| Tullow Community School | The Mullawn Tullow Co. Carlow |
| Beara Community School | Castletownbere Beara Co. Cork |
| Ashbourne Community School | Deerpark Ashbourne Co. Meath |
| Gort Community School | Gort Co. Galway |
| Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra | Rathmore Co. Kerry |
| Holy Family School for the Deaf | Navan Road, Cabra Dublin 7 |
| Mercy Secondary School | Ballymahon Co Longford |
| Deele College | Raphoe Lifford Co. Donegal |
| Borrisokane Community College | Borrisokane Co Tipperary |
| Shannon Comprehensive School | Shannon Co Clare |
| Portmarnock Community School | Carrickhill Road Portmarnock Co. Dublin |
Leaving Certificate Computer Science
The specification for Leaving Certificate Computer Science (LCCS) for Leaving Certificate focuses on how programming and computational thinking can be applied to the solution of problems, and how computing technology impacts the world around us.
Students will learn:
- computational thinking
- how to analyse problems in computational terms
- programming languages and how to read, write, test and modify computer programs
- creative design
- design computational artefacts such as web pages, digital animations, simulations, games, apps and robotic systems
- the ethical, historical, environmental and technological aspects of Computer Science, and how it impacts the social and economic development of society
There are two assessment components in LCCS:
- final year project – 30%
- written examination – 70%
The 40 schools announced previously will begin studying the subject from this September. The €3,000 grant per school will be towards the purchase of digital connector devices.
Leaving Certificate Computer Science Phase 1 Schools
| School Name | Address |
| Abbey Vocational School | The Glebe, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal |
| Adamstown Community College | Station Rd, Adamstown, Co. Dublin |
| Breifne College | Cootehill Rd, Cavan, Co. Cavan |
| Bush Post Primary | Riverstown, Dundalk, Co. Louth |
| Carrigaline Community School | Waterpark, Carrigaline, Co. Cork |
| Castleblayney College | Dublin Road, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan |
| Christ King Girls Secondary School | Half Moon Lane, South Douglas Road, Cork |
| Clongowes Wood College | Clane, Co. Kildare |
| Coláiste an Chraoibhin | Duntaheen Road, Fermoy, Co. Cork |
| Coláiste Bríde | New Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 |
| Coláiste Chiaráin | Croom, Co. Limerick |
| Coláiste Choilm | Ballincollig, Co. Cork |
| Coláiste Mhuire | Mullingar, Co. Westmeath |
| Coláiste na Ríochta | Listowel, Co. Kerry |
| Colaiste Phadraig | Roselawn, Lucan, Co. Dublin |
| Coláiste Pobail Setanta | Phibblestown CC, Phibblestown, Dublin 15 |
| Creagh College | Carnew Road, Gorey, Co. Wexford |
| Dominican College Sion Hill | Sion Hill, Blackrock, Co Dublin |
| Ennistymon Vocational School | Ennistymon, Ennis, Co. Clare |
| Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG | An Mhainistir Thuaidh, Corcaigh |
| Le Chéile Secondary School | Hollystown Road, Tyrellstown, Dublin 15 |
| Loreto College | Swords, Co. Dublin |
| Luttrellstown Community College | Mill Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 |
| Mayfield Community School | Old Youghal Road, Mayfield, Cork |
| Moate Community School | Church Street, Moate, Co. Westmeath |
| Mount Sion CBS | Barrack Street, Waterford |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive | Malahide Road, Dublin 3 |
| Presentation Secondary School | Clonmel, Co. Tipperary |
| Rice College | Castlebar Road, Westport, Co. Mayo |
| Sacred Heart Secondary School | Convent of Mercy, Clonakilty, Co. Cork |
| Saint Eunan's College | Letterkenny, Co. Donegal |
| St Aidan's Comprehensive School | Cootehill, Co. Cavan |
| St Brigids Mercy Secondary School | Convent Of Mercy, Tuam, Co. Galway |
| St Joseph's Secondary School | Convent Lane, Rush, Co. Dublin |
| St Mary's CBS | Millpark Road, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford |
| St Vincent's Secondary School | Seatown Place, Dundalk, Co. Louth |
| St. Finian's Community College | Swords, Co. Dublin |
| Stratford College | 1 Zion Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6 |
| Synge St CBS | Synge St., Dublin 8 |
| Terenure College | Templeogue Road, Terenure, Dublin 6W |