Here’s a study guide for the final months before the Leaving Cert exams
We got expert tips from two of Ireland’s leading study websites and their learning experts
Second Level
News and advice on the second-level education system.
Concerns over use of post-primary students’ data in performance tracker
More than 400 schools use Athena Tracker, which predicts and monitors individual capabilities
Forget the CAO: Here are some alternatives to college
Apprenticeships, traineeships and PLCs provide alternative routes to exciting, well-paid careers
College Choice: Essential reading for Leaving Certificate students
We hope there’s something for every Leaving Cert student (and parent!) in today’s College Choice guide in The Irish Times
Six things you need to consider before making your third-level and further education choices
CAO applicants for 2026 will need to register before February 1st at 5pm
Key dates for 2026 CAO applications: from early-bird applications to Leaving Cert appeals
Here is every important date in the CAO calendar along with important links, reminders and information about fees
What should you be thinking about when deciding on a third-level college?
Students should think beyond their course choices towards career options, experts advise
‘My daughter, along with most of her classmates, seem laser-focused on going to UCD or Trinity’
She could sit down with her guidance counsellor in school and explore how her interests and learning style align with the available options
FAFO parenting has taken over from the gently-gently approach
This new trend sounds remarkably like the parenting of the 1980s and 1990s, the kind we’ve mostly been trying to avoid
Things to consider when choosing an Irish secondary school for your child
Feeder schools tables are informative, but there are plenty of other requirements to consider when looking at schools
Feeder schools: How graduates of Irish second-level schools are progressing to third-level institutions
Pick up our supplement with The Irish Times today to find out everything you need to know
How do I choose the right secondary school for my child?
Apart from feeder schools lists, what else should parents and guardians consider?
Feeder Schools 2025: What you need to know about latest data for Irish schools
Data is compiled from State Examinations Commission Leaving Cert sits list and lists provided by higher education institutions
Feeder Schools: Six take-aways from this year’s listings
Deis has improved progression prospects of students in disadvantaged areas but Ireland is still not an equal-opportunity society for children
Feeder Schools: Why are further education and training progression rates not included?
Further education and training is a category that includes Post-Leaving Cert (PLC), apprenticeship and traineeship courses
Feeder Schools: How to make sense of school progression charts
14,000 of the 2025 Leaving Cert class decided that applying to the CAO was not right for them
Third-level progression rates: Why do some schools score more than 100%?
It seems mathematically impossible, but the percentage number accounts for several different elements
Teaching has become an increasingly lonely profession
In my past life, which included a stint as a private detective, there was time for a chat and a joke with a colleague. Not any more
‘My son has no idea what he wants to do after college, so how real is the CAO cut-off point?’
The February 1st initial deadline is in many ways an administrative carryover from a bygone era
Irish students in Germany explain Killorglin’s Puck Fair to dropped jaws
Ireland’s schools utilising EU funds to send students to Germany are pushing at an open door
Young Scientist: Kerry student (15) wins overall prize for brain cancer diagnostic tool
Aoibheann Daly develops GlioScope that can reduce need for invasive procedures
Education matters: Places on medical and paramedical degrees in Ulster University
Ask Brian: There are places open to Republic of Ireland students, but applications must be submitted to UCAS by January 14th
Stream of rejection letters from special schools is ‘soul destroying’, says father
Riley McMahon’s twin sister attends local secondary school, increasing his awareness of what he’s missing out on
Which CAO programmes must be listed due to portfolio, interview or performance criteria?
Ask Brian: All you need to know about the restricted application courses for 2026
Civil servants say targeted bursaries for teachers must be considered to boost supply
Naughton advised of shortage of personnel with qualifications in key subjects at post-primary level
Where CAO points are likely to settle in 2026
Ask Brian: Gradual reduction in grade enhancement begun this year will continue for the next four or five years
Leaving Cert AI reforms risk making a mockery of the principle of equality
Teachers are wearily getting on with the reformed Leaving Cert, but there are some things they just can’t do – like stopping students cheating
Secret Teacher: I handled that PT meeting incorrectly, even though I stand over what I said
Smiling like a self-assured Bond villain, the mother leaned in – ‘they don’t think they’re succeeding in your class’
EirGrid and Green Schools partner to power young minds
EirGrid’s support allowed An Taisce Green-Schools to bring back the energy theme of its programme last year
A national conversation about the future of Irish education is about to start. It could be magical
It must make space for voices that are too often left out, and children and young people must be at its heart
Nursing and midwifery offer careers for those with aptitude, curiosity and compassion
A degree in nursing or midwifery is a foundation for lifelong learning, with job opportunities across diverse settings
New Deis Plus plan for Ireland’s most disadvantaged areas needs to be bold
If Deis Plus is watered down, it will be horrifically depressing for everyone within education
‘Points don’t define potential – work ethic and passion do’
Rickwang Tientcheu says he drifted through the Covid years of second level before building up his own app for students, Edu Éire
Variation in primary teachers’ proficiency in Irish ‘a matter of significant concern’
Department inspectorate found ‘apparent lack of confidence’ among many teachers using Irish in English-medium schools
Ireland remains locked into the anglophone world. Will we ever make the multilingual leap?
Language specialists doubt whether existing educational policies can deliver on State’s linguistic competence deficit
‘It’s a rare opportunity’: Students share advice for study abroad in Europe
From budgeting to language learning, students reflect on their experiences studying abroad
Irish-language education policy ‘ignores elephant in the room’, advocacy groups warn
Patron body says ‘little progress’ made on similar goals announced 20 years ago
Would it not be better if children could take the books home from school?
‘Reading for pleasure among teenagers is in decline, yet here is an opportunity to give every student in the country at least one free novel a year’
CAO applications: How can I help my son complete the process properly?
Any correspondence from the Central Applications Office must be dealt with promptly
Jarlath Regan: I worked my tail off to bring my son home to experience school in Ireland
It was hard to leave Ireland without resentment – without a sense of why do I have to go?
‘We are considering encouraging our son to skip transition year’
Ask Brian: This programme shakes up the traditional, formal education system and introduces students to new ways of learning
Not having a special class is not a sign of a school’s non-commitment to inclusion
You cannot impose a vision of inclusion without attending to the granular context in which schools operate
As the presidential election comes into view, it’s important young people pay attention
Politics is boring. That is, unless you care about education, climate change, healthcare, housing, jobs or many other issues.
‘After a summer of unemployment, there was a massive change in my life’
‘What I learn in college becomes real for me during my working week’ – ATI apprentice Niall McClave
UK students are abandoning languages and the arts. Let’s make sure it never happens here
When governments signal that some subjects matter less, the cultural and human cost is far greater than imagined
Boys-only Dublin private school appoints first woman principal in 190-year history
Elaine Kelly has been appointed principal of the all-boys, fee-paying Castleknock College
What to focus on at college open days
Key to moving to higher or further education is to concentrate on curriculum content, college facilities and accommodation or public transport
College open days 2025/26: Key details for NCI, NCAD, technological universities and other institutions
What to know and what to expect at open days around the country
When are university open days taking place?
Here are the key dates and what to expect at Ireland’s university open days
What questions should a prospective third-level student ask?
Going to college open days can help you figure out what might suit your student life
Returning to education: ‘I dreamed of doing more but those dreams seemed out of reach’
Demand for adult education is rising, yet resources are shrinking, says AONTAS
Number of Junior Cert top grades doubles after change to bands
More than 55,000 distinctions awarded after revision of system
Changing careers: ‘My job began to feel hollow ... I felt I’d lost myself somewhere’
If you dream about making a big change in your life, take inspiration from these five people, who each took a leap of faith mid-career that paid off
‘Apprentices are earning over €50,000’: Why more school leavers are turning to trades
Snobbery over apprenticeships is fading with the housing and cost of living crises making them more appealing
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices