Senior cycle education is the period of education that follows the junior cycle. The Leaving Certificate programme is provided through three routes. Students have an opportunity to do a transition year between junior cycle and senior cycle. Towards Learning sets out a vision for senior cycle education, describing the values on which it is based and the principles that are shaping the review and development of senior cycle curriculum and assessment. It also provides information on the senior cycle curriculum, key skills, assessment and certification, and learning in senior cycle.
The key skills framework is an integrated framework reflecting the strong interrelationships between five skills: communicating, working with others, critical and creative thinking, information processing, being personally effective.