An expat's guide to the Irish education system

Ireland has state-funded primary and secondary schools, with compulsory education running from age 6 to 16. State-funded schools don’t charge tuition, and schoolbooks are free in recognised primary schools and some post-primary schools. However, uniforms, transport, trips and some activities expenses fall on families.

Our guide is for expat parents who try to figure out what their child will study, when the next school stage starts and what they need to arrange. Read on to get all the answers.

Irish education system at a glance

Children move through pre-school, eight years of primary school, five or six years of secondary school, and then choose between university, further education or work. In Ireland, children must remain in education until they turn 16 or complete three years of post-primary education, whichever comes later.

Approximate age	Stage	Length	Compulsory
2 years 8 months–5	ECCE pre-school	Up to 2 years	No
4–6	Junior and Senior Infants	2 years	From age 6
6–12/13	1st–6th class	6 years	Yes
12/13–15/16	Junior Cycle	3 years	Yes
15/16–16/17	Transition year	1 year	No
16–18	Senior Cycle	2 years	Depending on age
18+	Higher or further education	Varies	No

The ages in the table are approximate. A child may be slightly older or younger, depending on when they started primary school and whether they completed the transition year.

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School year and attendance

The school year starts around late August or early September and ends around June. Primary and special schools must open for at least 182 days, while post-primary schools must open for at least 166 days (as of 2026, rules may change; verify with your school). Exact dates vary between schools, so families should use their own school calendar when planning holidays.

Attendance is monitored, schools record every day a child misses. Once a child has been absent for 20 days in one school year, the school must report it to Tusla. The total includes sick days, family emergencies, holidays and unexplained absences. It’s not putting you in any trouble, though. 20 days is simply the point at which the school has to make a report.

"Tackling school absences will be a key part of my plan to ensure that every child can achieve their full potential. Regular attendance in school is essential not just for academic achievement, but for wellbeing, social development and long-term outcomes." – Helen McEntee, Minister for Education and Youth.

What to do: Tell the school whenever your child will be absent and explain the reason. For a longer illness, ask whether the school needs a medical certificate and how your child can keep up with lessons. There is no need to send a sick child to school just to stay below the 20-day limit.

Tips:

• Getting a doctor's appointment in Ireland in six easy steps.
• Health insurance in Ireland for expats.

Pre-school in Ireland

Ireland’s Early Childhood Care and Education programme, or ECCE, provides up to two years of free pre-school before primary school. Children can start ECCE if they are at least two years and eight months old by August 31st. They can attend until they start primary school, but no later than age five years and six months at the end of the programme year.

ECCE programme

ECCE covers three free hours a day, five days a week, for 38 weeks of the year (as of 2026; check the ECCE official page to verify). The programme runs from September to June.

ECCE is not free full-day childcare. If your child stays at a crèche or childcare centre outside the ECCE hours, you pay for the additional time. If you need financial support to cover childcare, try applying for the National Childcare Scheme.

Pre-school is optional, but it can make the move into the Irish education system easier, especially for children arriving from abroad. They become familiar with English, group activities and the local daily routine. Children can also make a lot of good friends because ECCE is a popular programme – around 95% of eligible families participate in 2026.

Primary school in Ireland

Primary school starts at age four or five and lasts eight years. The first two years are Junior Infants and Senior Infants, followed by 1st to 6th class. The full sequence is:

1. Junior Infants
2. Senior Infants
3. 1st class
4. 2nd class
5. 3rd class
6. 4th class
7. 5th class
8. 6th class

Junior and Senior Infants are already part of primary school, but learning during these years is more play-based than in later classes.

Primary school curriculum

Primary education covers subjects like English, Irish, maths, science, history, geography, arts, physical education and wellbeing. From 2026/27, Ireland will start introducing a new primary school curriculum. Children will still study core subjects such as English, Irish and maths, but there will be more focus on STEM, modern foreign languages and a wider range of arts subjects. Schools will bring in the changes step by step, so not every subject will change at once.

English and Irish knowledge

Your child can start primary school even if they speak little or no English and have never studied Irish. Teachers may use English as an Additional Language resources to help them understand lessons, talk to classmates and feel more comfortable at school. The support will depend on the child and the school: it may be in the form of small-group lessons, extra time with a teacher or help during regular classes.

Irish is taught as a school subject, so your child doesn’t need to know it before they arrive. Some children can be excused from the subject. However, if your child can manage Irish without too much stress, learning it is a better choice: it will help them feel more included at school and keep more study and career options open later. Discuss this with the school before applying for an exemption.

“Ireland continues to be recognised internationally for the quality and strength of its education, but we also know there is more to do to ensure every learner, regardless of background or ability, is supported.” – Helen McEntee, Minister for Education and Youth.

Admissions and primary school choice

In Ireland, parents contact schools and apply for a place themselves – your address doesn’t reserve a place at the nearest school, and that school may already be full. On the school’s website, find its Annual Admission Notice. It shows the application dates, the number of places and how places are offered when there are more applicants than seats.

Schools may have different teaching languages, educational approaches and school patrons:

• Catholic and other denominational schools;
• multi-denominational schools;
• Irish-medium Gaelscoileanna;
• mixed schools;
• boys-only or girls-only schools;
• mainstream schools with special classes;
• special schools.

Each school patron sets the ethos and may influence how religion is woven into the school day. If this matters to your family, ask how it's included. Your child can be excused from religious lessons, but prayers, Mass and religious celebrations may still be part of school life.

When you write to the school, attach your child’s previous school reports and test results, along with a list of the subjects they have studied. English translations will make the documents easier for the school to use. This information helps teachers place your child in the right class and plan any English or learning support they may need.

Secondary school in Ireland

Secondary school begins at age 12 or 13 and lasts five or six years. Students complete a three-year Junior Cycle, may take an optional Transition year and then enter the two-year Senior Cycle.

Secondary schools don’t all offer the same subjects and programmes. If your child wants to study a particular language or science subject, take Transition Year or follow a specific Leaving Certificate programme, make sure it is available at the school before accepting a place.

Junior Cycle

Junior Cycle covers the first three years of secondary school. During the second and third years, students complete Classroom-Based Assessments in different subjects: a presentation, research, written work or an experiment. Their teacher assesses the work using descriptions such as Above expectations or In line with expectations. At the end of the third year, students also take state examinations.

After Junior Cycle, the school gives each student a Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement, or JCPA. It brings together their state exam results, Classroom-Based Assessments, short courses and other achievements at school.

If your teenager joins an Irish school during the second or third year, show the school what subjects and assessments they have already completed – and ask which Classroom-Based Assessments are still due.

Transition year

Transition year (TY) is an optional one-year programme between Junior Cycle and the final two years of Senior Cycle. There are fewer exam pressures, and students have more time to try new things and think about what they might want to do after school.

Every school creates its own TY programme. A typical year may include:

• work experience with a local employer;
• volunteering or community projects;
• short courses not normally available at school;
• business or entrepreneurship projects;
• arts, sport and outdoor activities;
• trips;
• practical skills such as first aid or cooking.

TY can be a good option for a teenager who has recently moved to Ireland. It gives them an extra year to become more confident in English, make friends and get used to a new state school before the Leaving Certificate begins. During this period, students also explore subjects and careers to help them make important choices for their final two years.

TY is optional, and not every school offers it. Some schools have more students interested than places available. Trips and activities may also cost extra, so ask the school what its TY year includes and how much families usually pay before deciding.

Senior Cycle and the Leaving Certificate

Senior Cycle is the final two or three years of secondary school, when students follow a Leaving Certificate programme they choose:

• Leaving Certificate Established – the standard programme and the usual route for students who want to go directly to university. Admission depends on their subjects and grades.
• Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) – students take regular Leaving Certificate subjects plus extra modules about work and business. The LCVP grade can add to their university points.
• Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) – a more practical programme with projects and work experience. It doesn't lead directly to university, but students can move on to a PLC course and apply to higher education later.

Ask which programmes and subjects the school offers before your child makes their choice.

Higher education in Ireland

Most students apply to Irish universities and colleges through the  Central Applications Office, or CAO. To get a place, your child must have enough points and meet the course’s subject requirements.

CAO converts Leaving Certificate grades into points and counts the six best results from one exam sitting. A course may also require a particular grade in maths, English, a language or a science subject. This is why subject choices in Senior Cycle matter: having enough points is not enough if your child is missing a required subject or grade.

University isn’t always free. Under the Free Fees Initiative, the state may cover tuition for eligible students, but they still pay a student contribution. The maximum rate is 2,500 EUR for 2026/27 (rates subject to change; verify current amounts on the Citizens Information website), and a SUSI grant may cover some or all of it (eligibility and grant amounts vary; verify your child's eligibility and expected award with Citizens Information or your higher education institution).

For expat families, eligibility depends on residency and other conditions. Even if your child went to school in Ireland, they may not qualify for free tuition or a grant.

Other options in the Irish education system

Ireland also allows families to choose specialist education, fee-paying schools, international schools and home education.

Special educational needs

Children with additional educational needs may attend a mainstream class, a special class within a mainstream school or a special school. Mainstream schools can also receive special education teaching resources.

If your child already receives support abroad, bring assessment reports, educational plans and medical or specialist documents. They can help the school understand the support previously provided, although the arrangement offered in Ireland may differ.

Private and international schools

Private and international schools are alternatives to the state school system. Fee-paying schools can charge tuition, while international schools may follow the International Baccalaureate, a British curriculum or another international programme.

They may suit families planning another international move, but fees can be high and places limited.

Home education

Home education is legal in Ireland, and families can choose their own teaching methods and materials. You don’t have to follow the national curriculum, and you may use tutors, online programmes or other resources. However, your child must receive an education that suits their age and abilities.

To register, complete an R1 form for each child and send it to Tusla’s Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service with a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate or passport.

Tusla will then assess the education you plan to provide. This is to make sure your child will receive a suitable education, not to require you to copy a traditional school day. If the requirements are met, your child is added to the official register for children educated at home.

FAQ – Education in Ireland