PE and dance to become Leaving Cert subject from September

Students can get half their marks in a new Leaving Certificate physical education subject for projects and performances in activities as diverse as sprinting, camogie, orienteering, or jazz dance.

The first examination of the new subject will be in 2020, when students at more than 50 schools are expected to complete the new senior-cycle course.

The schools will be selected from those responding to an invitation being issued today by Education Minister Richard Bruton to begin teaching the subject next September.