Agri Aware, in partnership with the Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB), launched its transition year (TY) programme ‘Intro to Ag’ to all schools nationwide in September this year.
Since then, over 5,000 fifth and sixth year students have been taking part in the initiative.
The aim of the programme is to encourage TY students to look into studying ag science as a senior cycle subject and hopefully pursue a career in the industry.
It is a taster course that they complete ahead of making their subject choice decisions for the Leaving Certificate.
Decline in numbers
The two organisations decided to join forces and launch the initiative as a pilot programme last year, as concerns were raised over the decline in numbers doing the subject.
With the growing demand for agricultural science graduates across the industry, it is important to give students an insight into the various education pathways and career opportunities across the sector, regardless of whether they come from a farming background or not.
Acting as a pathway, the programme - which has since been launched nationwide - is leading the next generation of students down the route of agriculture and food production.
Speaking about the rollout of the programme, enterprise support at LOETB Gráinne McGrath said: “If we want to make a real impact in any sector, we need to begin at grassroots level - and that’s exactly what this initiative aims to do."
According to Gráinne, the programme is about opening young people’s eyes to the wide range of opportunities in the agricultural sector, regardless of whether they come from a farming background.
LOETB and Agri Aware hosted an 'Intro to Ag' peer day in May to launch the programme nationwide.
“The sector urgently needs their energy, ambition and diverse skillsets. As the name suggests, 'Intro to Ag' is designed to spark interest and, we hope, lead to more students pursuing agricultural science in further and higher education - ultimately feeding talent into a sector that needs it now more than ever.”
Structure of programme
The TY programme is purposefully structured to take the student and teacher on a journey of exploration in agriculture.
'Intro to Ag' has links with agricultural science, biology, home economics and business. The interdisciplinary approach reflects the multifaceted nature of the agri-food sector. This allows for an innovative and flexible format of the programme.
The three main learning objectives are:
To increase the number of students studying LC agricultural science.To increase understanding of agricultural science.To showcase the many careers available within agriculture.The winning group of the pilot programme last year were students Jack Kelly, Conor O'Shea, Lennon Conroy and Jack Hyland from Clonaslee College, Co Laois.
With the 2025/26 programme now under way, if teachers are interested in getting their class involved, they can contact Agri Aware or LOETB.
James Madden, Clonaslee College Co Laois
James Madden, ag science teacher at Clonaslee College, Co Laois.
“I teach ag science, TY science, junior cycle science and LCA agriculture/horticulture. I have seen a slight decline in the number of students doing ag science for the Leaving Certificate. Every year, the numbers fluctuate between 15 and 20 students. The current fifth-year class has 11 students doing ag science.
Perception among students is that it is difficult to attain a high mark in the individual investigative study (IIS) in comparison to other subjects with coursework components.
“It was a good programme, the flexibility afforded to teachers and schools who partake in the programme really suits the nature of TY, with respect to timetabling, etc. I also think that this programme reflects the new TY programme statement by developing key competencies in students relating to agriculture.
“Students really enjoyed the workshops offered throughout the programme and benefited from increased subject knowledge in various aspects of Irish agriculture.
"Other areas of learning were also developed such as teamwork, communication and organisational skills, through the completion and presentation of their projects at the end of the programme.
“Through participation in this pilot programme, students who may not have typically considered taking Leaving Certificate ag science have given it more serious consideration.”
Chris Gleeson, Portlaoise College, Co Laois
Chris Gleeson, teacher at Portlaoise College.
“I have been teaching at Portlaoise College for the last seven years. We are a town-based school, with a very small cohort of students coming from a farming background. My current sixth-year group consists of 23 students, with a full class in fifth year.
“I piloted the ‘Intro to Ag’ programme with two TY groups last year, which has influenced student uptake.
"However, from talking to teachers from other schools at various CPD events, there are problems with schools experiencing a decline in student numbers taking up the subject.
“There are a variety of reasons as to why student numbers are declining across the country - the recent subject redevelopment has made it far more difficult to achieve top marks and the stats are there to prove this.
"The new project component has made it far more difficult for the 'real farmer' to shine, something that was once possible with the interviews on the old syllabus.
“The 'Intro to Ag' programme was a brilliant addition to my pool of teaching resources.
"From chatting to some of last year's TYs, the programme has undoubtedly influenced their decision to pick the subject for next year. It is great to see it has this kind of an impact and hopefully it will continue to do so on a national scale."
Agri Aware, in partnership with the Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB), launched its transition year (TY) programme ‘Intro to Ag’ to all schools nationwide in September this year.
Since then, over 5,000 fifth and sixth year students have been taking part in the initiative.
The aim of the programme is to encourage TY students to look into studying ag science as a senior cycle subject and hopefully pursue a career in the industry.
It is a taster course that they complete ahead of making their subject choice decisions for the Leaving Certificate.
Decline in numbers
The two organisations decided to join forces and launch the initiative as a pilot programme last year, as concerns were raised over the decline in numbers doing the subject.
With the growing demand for agricultural science graduates across the industry, it is important to give students an insight into the various education pathways and career opportunities across the sector, regardless of whether they come from a farming background or not.
Acting as a pathway, the programme - which has since been launched nationwide - is leading the next generation of students down the route of agriculture and food production.
Speaking about the rollout of the programme, enterprise support at LOETB Gráinne McGrath said: “If we want to make a real impact in any sector, we need to begin at grassroots level - and that’s exactly what this initiative aims to do."
According to Gráinne, the programme is about opening young people’s eyes to the wide range of opportunities in the agricultural sector, regardless of whether they come from a farming background.
LOETB and Agri Aware hosted an 'Intro to Ag' peer day in May to launch the programme nationwide.
“The sector urgently needs their energy, ambition and diverse skillsets. As the name suggests, 'Intro to Ag' is designed to spark interest and, we hope, lead to more students pursuing agricultural science in further and higher education - ultimately feeding talent into a sector that needs it now more than ever.”
Structure of programme
The TY programme is purposefully structured to take the student and teacher on a journey of exploration in agriculture.
'Intro to Ag' has links with agricultural science, biology, home economics and business. The interdisciplinary approach reflects the multifaceted nature of the agri-food sector. This allows for an innovative and flexible format of the programme.
The three main learning objectives are:
To increase the number of students studying LC agricultural science.To increase understanding of agricultural science.To showcase the many careers available within agriculture.The winning group of the pilot programme last year were students Jack Kelly, Conor O'Shea, Lennon Conroy and Jack Hyland from Clonaslee College, Co Laois.
With the 2025/26 programme now under way, if teachers are interested in getting their class involved, they can contact Agri Aware or LOETB.
James Madden, Clonaslee College Co Laois
James Madden, ag science teacher at Clonaslee College, Co Laois.
“I teach ag science, TY science, junior cycle science and LCA agriculture/horticulture. I have seen a slight decline in the number of students doing ag science for the Leaving Certificate. Every year, the numbers fluctuate between 15 and 20 students. The current fifth-year class has 11 students doing ag science.
Perception among students is that it is difficult to attain a high mark in the individual investigative study (IIS) in comparison to other subjects with coursework components.
“It was a good programme, the flexibility afforded to teachers and schools who partake in the programme really suits the nature of TY, with respect to timetabling, etc. I also think that this programme reflects the new TY programme statement by developing key competencies in students relating to agriculture.
“Students really enjoyed the workshops offered throughout the programme and benefited from increased subject knowledge in various aspects of Irish agriculture.
"Other areas of learning were also developed such as teamwork, communication and organisational skills, through the completion and presentation of their projects at the end of the programme.
“Through participation in this pilot programme, students who may not have typically considered taking Leaving Certificate ag science have given it more serious consideration.”
Chris Gleeson, Portlaoise College, Co Laois
Chris Gleeson, teacher at Portlaoise College.
“I have been teaching at Portlaoise College for the last seven years. We are a town-based school, with a very small cohort of students coming from a farming background. My current sixth-year group consists of 23 students, with a full class in fifth year.
“I piloted the ‘Intro to Ag’ programme with two TY groups last year, which has influenced student uptake.
"However, from talking to teachers from other schools at various CPD events, there are problems with schools experiencing a decline in student numbers taking up the subject.
“There are a variety of reasons as to why student numbers are declining across the country - the recent subject redevelopment has made it far more difficult to achieve top marks and the stats are there to prove this.
"The new project component has made it far more difficult for the 'real farmer' to shine, something that was once possible with the interviews on the old syllabus.
“The 'Intro to Ag' programme was a brilliant addition to my pool of teaching resources.
"From chatting to some of last year's TYs, the programme has undoubtedly influenced their decision to pick the subject for next year. It is great to see it has this kind of an impact and hopefully it will continue to do so on a national scale."
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