Syllabus change, student learning and teacher experiences

The new Republic of Ireland Leaving Certificate geography programme (taken by 16- to 18-year-olds), which was first examined in 2006, marked a major change in approach from its predecessor. This paper presents the results of a study that explored the learning outcomes in light of the stated aspirations of the syllabus, teacher perceptions and of society's expressed concerns about the nature of education today. Research data were obtained via interviews with teachers and questionnaire surveys with participants. The results from this study indicate that the new programme appears to have some impact on learning outcomes, both positive and negative.