Senior Cycle

Senior Cycle education is designed for students aged 15 to 19. It may include an optional Transition Year, taken directly after the Junior Cycle. In the final two years at Grange Community College, students choose from four programme options: the Leaving Certificate Established (LCE), the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), or a Senior Cycle Level 1 or Level 2 Learning Programme (SCL1LP/SCL2LP).

Leaving Cert Established (LCE)

We offer our students a wide range of subjects at Leaving Certificate level.

In general, students take seven subjects for examination, three of which must be Maths, English and Irish, unless a language exemption is granted. Subjects are normally studied at either Ordinary or Higher Level. Two subjects, Irish and Mathematics, can be studied at Foundation Level. All students engage in a two-year programme of study in Physical Education (PE), Social, Personal & Health Education (SPHE) and Guidance.

In addition to this, students choose an additional four option subjects from the range of subjects listed below. It is important to note that with each new Senior Cycle cohort the range of subject options is dependent on student uptake class and subject specific teacher availability.

Accounting
Business
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
Computer Science
Home Economics
Life, Community & Work (LCW)

Art
Music
Drama, Film & Theatre Studies (DFT)
Construction Studies
Engineering
Design Communication Graphics (DCG)

Politics & Society
Geography
History
French (MFL)
Spanish (MFL)
German (MFL)
Polish (MFL)

Leaving Certificate Applied LCA

The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) is a distinctive, self-contained two-year programme designed to support students in preparing for life beyond school, including further education, training, and the world of work. It is particularly suited to students whose learning needs are not fully met by traditional Leaving Certificate programmes, especially those who benefit from a more practical and continuous approach to assessment.

The LCA places strong emphasis on recognising a wide range of talents and achievements, valuing skills and strengths that may not be highlighted in more conventional academic settings. It offers students opportunities to develop confidence, independence, and real-world skills.

The programme is organised around three key areas: Vocational Preparation, Vocational Education, and General Education, ensuring a balanced and practical learning experience. In addition to this, students choose additional option and elective subjects.