Weekly Grinds for 4th Year Students
Our Transition Year Weekly Grinds classes are designed to help students take that step with confidence. Our teachers will encourage students to continue to focus on academic development, build confidence, and maintain momentum in subjects without the pressure of a state exam.
Our weekly grinds will provide:
- Access to expert teachers
- Answers to their questions
- Exam focused notes
- Exam strategies & examiner insights
- Recordings of all live classes to rewatch right up to the end of the 2024 Leaving Certificate exams
(The school data policy is available here.)
Weekly Grinds Locations
Our Weekly Grinds courses are available at our Leeson Street Campus, Dublin, and also as Online Classes. For more information please select a location below.
Join students at our Weekly Grinds in our state-of-the-art Leeson Street Campus every Saturday.
Every class is recorded live, so you can rewatch and revise as you prepare for your exams.
Our commitment to you: When you join this course, you can be assured that the outcome will be exceptional whether you join our online or onsite classes.
We look forward to you joining our Weekly Grinds and becoming a part of our Learning Community, as we help you to Leaving Cert success.
The Institute of Education
79 – 85 Lower Leeson Street
Dublin 2
D02 PX56
Can’t make it to our onsite classes? Join our online Weekly Grinds classes. Get the additional support you need with our live online grinds classes. These are specific online classes that enable you to learn from and interact with the teachers during every class.
Every class is recorded live, so you can rewatch and revise as you prepare for your exams.
Our commitment to you: When you join this course, you can be assured that the outcome will be exceptional whether you join our online or onsite classes.
We look forward to you joining our Weekly Grinds and becoming a part of our Learning Community, as we help you to Leaving Cert success.
Please note:
Login details for online classes will be issued to students by email before the start of the course.
To learn more about what will be covered in each subject, please select from the list below:
EnglishEnglish Catch Up and Prepare for Senior Cycle
This course will revise key elements of the Junior Cycle that are necessary for Senior Cycle English and will serve as an introduction to Senior Cycle English.
Key areas will cover:
- Writing tasks, both creative and functional
- Comprehension, reading to understand and deliver
- Engaging with and enjoying poetry
- Revision of JC Shakespearean drama
- Introduction to SC Shakespearean drama
- Fiction-a closer look at the novel; characters, setting, plot, key moments.
- Introduction to the concept of Comparative Study
- Film Studies
Biology
This course is designed to help students in preparation for high success in their Leaving Certificate Higher Biology course.
The course will help bridge the gap for students between Junior Cycle Science and Leaving Certificate Biology.
It will introduce the students to the key elements of the LC Biology course and will include topics from all sections of the syllabus.
These topics will include:
- Ecology
- Genetics
- Human Biology
- Plant Biology
- Microbiology
The students will gain some practice with past papers and learn strategies and skills that are needed to maximise their marks in exams. Detailed notes and relevant practice questions will be provided.
French
This course will help bridge the gap for students between Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate French. Key elements of the Junior Cycle course will be revised, while introducing students to the Senior Cycle French course.
Topics covered will include:
- Grammar: 5 core tenses (présent, passé composé, imparfait, futur, conditionnel), negation, adjectives, etc.
- Reading and Listening, Exam techniques and vocabulary .
- Written Production: an introduction to Diary entry, Opinion piece and some abstract topics vocabulary.
Oral Preparation: An introduction to the main LC oral exam topics, oral techniques.
Irish
This course will provide students with the skills needed to begin tackling the Leaving Certificate Irish course. A strong emphasis will be placed on grammar and language skills, with different grammar topics being covered each week to provide a strong basis of functional language that will enable students to be successful in all areas of the course.
Focus will be placed on oral language and vocabulary relevant to composition and comprehension questions. Students will engage with exam papers and marking schemes and discuss common exam mistakes to allow them to maximise their marks. Students will also begin to deal with literature and develop methodologies to deal with and prepare for all types of questions.
Topics from:
- General language skills, grammar and vocabulary
- Reading and listening comprehension: methodology, exam papers, key vocabulary and question phrases
- Literature: samples from the poetry and prose course and important vocab
- Composition: essays, speeches and debates
- Study methodology and exam technique
- Oral language and practice
Maths
This course is designed to encompass key elements of Junior Cycle Mathematics which are fundamental for success at Senior Cycle. There will be a strong emphasis on empowering students to gain the knowledge and skills that will benefit them directly for Leaving Certificate Mathematics.
Students will build on their proficiency in critical and creative thinking while focusing on developing computational thinking, and problem solving. Students will be encouraged to develop as learners within Mathematics by adopting a variety of approaches and strategies to increase self-confidence and personal effectiveness.
The course will revise aspects of the Junior Cycle while also focusing on key elements of Senior Cycle Mathematics.
Specific topics will include:
- Algebra
- Complex Numbers
- Trigonometry
- Co-Ordinate Geometry
Others topics from the syllabus with be visited.
Below are the timetables for each of our weekly grinds locations for the Academic Year 2023/24.
NOTE: All classes are 75 minutes in duration.
*Students may join at any stage throughout the year, subject to availability.
| Week | Week Commencing | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4th Sept 2023 | First Week |
| 2 | 11th Sept 2023 | |
| 3 | 18th Sept 2023 | |
| 4 | 25th Sept 2023 | |
| 5 | 2nd Oct 2023 | |
| 6 | 9th Oct 2023 | |
| 7 | 16th Oct 2023 | |
| 8 | 23rd Oct 2023 | |
| No Classes | 30th Oct 2023 | Mid-Term |
| 9 | 6th Nov 2023 | |
| 10 | 13th Nov 2023 | |
| 11 | 20th Nov 2023 | |
| 12 | 27th Nov 2023 | |
| 13 | 4th Dec 2023 | |
| 14 | 11th Dec 2023 | |
| No Classes | 18th Dec 2023 | Christmas |
| No Classes | 25th Dec 2023 | Christmas |
| No Classes | 1st Jan 2024 | Christmas |
| 15 | 8th Jan 2024 | |
| 16 | 15th Jan 2024 | |
| 17 | 22nd Jan 2024 | |
| 18 | 29th Jan 2024 | |
| 19 | 5th Feb 2024 | St. Brigid's Bank Holiday* |
| No Classes | 12th Feb 2024 | Mid-Term |
| 20 | 19th Feb 2024 | |
| 21 | 26th Feb 2024 | |
| 22 | 4th March 2024 | |
| 23 | 11th March 2024 | |
| 24 | 18th March 2024 | |
| No Classes | 25th March 2024 | Easter |
| No Classes | 1st April 2024 | Easter |
| 25 | 8th April 2024 | |
| 26 | 15th April 2024 | |
| 27 | 22nd April 2024 | |
| 28 | 29th April 2024 | |
| 29 | 6th May 2024 | **May Bank Holiday. No classes Mon 6th May. Classes as normal Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th May. |
*Classes will be taught on Bank Holiday Monday 5th Feb’24.
**Classes will not be taught on Bank Monday 6th May’24. These classes will be taught on Monday 13th May’24.
Online Timetable
| Day | Time | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 17:30 | English (H) |
| Tuesday | 17:30 | Maths (H) |
| Wednesday | 19:00 | Biology (H) |
| Thursday | 17:30 | Irish (H) |
Leeson Street Timetable
| Day | Time | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 09:00 | Irish (Higher) |
| 10:30 | Maths (Higher) | |
| 10:30 | French (Higher) | |
| 12:00 | English (Higher) |
| Number of Subjects | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 Subject | €675 |
| 2 Subjects | €1,155 |
| 3 Subjects | €1,480 |
| 4 Subjects | €1,805 |
| 5 Subjects | €2,130 |
| 6 Subjects | €2,460 |
| Each Subsequent Subject | €325 |
Onsite and online fees are the same.
All students joining our weekly classes now will receive access to recordings of all the classes for which they have enrolled. In addition, they will have access to recordings of the classes that have already taken place since the start of the course. This is an invaluable aid when it comes to revision. Class recordings are available to the end of State Exams 2024.
Please note:
- Card payments accepted.
- 10% reduction for the second and subsequent members of the same family, attending the same courses. Please contact our office to avail of this discount.
- Fees are non-transferable.
Weekly Grinds FAQs
Click on each question for the answer>>
Q: What subjects are available in Leeson Street
A: Please click here to view the timetable of subjects on offer at Leeson Street.
Q: Will I have access to recordings of the live grinds classes?
A: Yes, recordings of classes will be available after each live class is completed. All classes are also recorded live. You will be able to re-watch, pause and rewind the class recordings as often as you wish, making them an invaluable revision aid. The live recordings will be available until the end of the state exams in 2023.
Q: Will I have access to recordings of the live grinds classes?
A: Yes, recordings of classes will be available after each live class is completed. These can then be replayed as a revision aid. These will be available up until the end of the State exams 2024.
Q: Are the class notes available online?
A: No, a hard copy will be posted out to each student for the subjects they enrol in, on a monthly basis.
Q: If I am doing weekly grinds, can I change my choice of subject or class-time during the year?
A: Yes, we will allow class changes up to Easter, subject to available places. Please contact our office to arrange any changes on 01-661 3511
Q: How long is each weekly grinds class?
A: Each class lasts 75 minutes.
Q: How much is the fee per subject?
A: This depends on the number of subjects taken. Please refer to the fees table to see a list of fees.
Q: Can I cancel my classes and get a refund?
A: Yes, though please note: Classes are taught for 29 weeks. A refund (or partial refund) can be given for requests made before Week 15, 8th January 2024. A request for a refund can be made by contacting our office on 01 6613511 or helpdesk@instituteofeducation.ie
Q: How many weeks of tuition are there in the weekly grinds course?
A: There are 29 weeks (29 classes) of tuition between September and May. Students will have 1 class per subject booked per week.
Q: Are there any breaks or holidays during the year for students attending weekly grinds or part-time courses?
A: Yes, the classes schedule generally follows the normal school calendar with breaks at mid-terms, Christmas & Easter. Please refer to the timetable for more details.
Q: If I start weekly grinds later in the year, will this be reflected in the fees I pay?
A: Yes, fees are reduced 3 times throughout the year. The website will always show the current, and up-to-date pricing.
Q: Is attendance at weekly grinds and part-time courses monitored?
A: Yes, attendance is monitored for each class attended. The Institute however accepts no responsibility for students who fail to attend class.
Q: What style are the classes conducted in? Can students ask questions?
A: Our classes run in a more lecture style than most students might be used to in school, but they are also interactive, and teachers will use a variety of methods to ensure that students can learn, understand and feel comfortable asking questions and contributing to the class.
Q: For weekly grinds, does the beginning of a new term mean the start of a new course?
A: No, in the weekly grinds each subject commences in September and runs through to the end of the academic year in May. Students can catch up with what they might have missed by participating in the Christmas, mid-term and Easter revision courses.
Q: If I want to join weekly grinds during the year, can you tell me what remains to be covered on the course and what the student has missed?
A: Yes, teachers have their own individual teaching plan for the year, and should be able to advise on this.
Q: What subjects would you recommend to take on as an extra subject?
A: The most popular subjects would be: Applied Maths; Economics; Business; Accountancy; Classical Studies and Agricultural Science.
Q: My son/daughter cannot attend the course. Can we buy the notes?
A: No. Teaching is a central part of all our courses. The notes are to facilitate recall and revision of the day’s work covered by the teacher.
Click on each question for the answer>>
Q: What subjects are available Online?
A: Please click here to view the timetable of subjects on offer online.
Q: How do I access my online grinds classes?
A: Students enrolled on the course will receive an email from us containing their unique login details and link to access their chosen subjects through our online student platform, Moodle. Login credentials will be sent in advance of the course start date. Only those details sent to you will enable you to successfully access classes online.
Q: How are the online classes hosted?
A: All online classes are hosted live on Microsoft Teams. The links to the weekly classes are accessed via Moodle. Students must sign into both Moodle and MS Teams with the @instituteofeducation.ie login credentials sent to the student.
Q: Are the online grinds pre-recorded?
A: Each online class is taught live with the teacher and class group as per the timetable. Recordings of each class will be available after each live class is completed. These can then be replayed as a revision aid until the end of June 2023.
Q: Will I have access to recordings of the live grinds classes?
A: Yes, recordings of classes will be available after each live class is completed. All classes are also recorded live. You will be able to re-watch, pause and rewind the class recordings as often as you wish, making them an invaluable revision aid. The live recordings will be available until the end of the state exams in 2023.
Q: Are there any particular requirements for attending online classes?
A: We advise that all students enrolling in our online classes have access to the following:
-
- Access to a reliable Wi-Fi service
- Access to a PC, Laptop, Tablet or similar device (We would recommend not to use a mobile phone)
- Headphone/Earphones
Q: If I'm attending the online grinds will I have access to the notes?
A: Yes, students enrolled in online grinds will receive a monthly delivery of notes for each chosen subject. Please allow five working days for delivery from the time of booking.
Q: Will I have access to recordings of the live grinds classes?
A: Yes, recordings of classes will be available after each live class is completed. These can then be replayed as a revision aid. These will be available up until the end of the State exams 2023.
Q: Are there any specific requirements to attending online grinds?
A: We would advise that all students enrolling in our online grinds have the following:
• Access to a reliable wifi service.
• Access to a PC, Laptop, Tablet, or similar device.
• We would not recommend using a mobile phone.
• Headphones/earphones.
Q: Are the class notes available online?
A: No, a hard copy will be posted out to each student for the subjects they enrol in, on a monthly basis.
Q: If I am doing weekly grinds, can I change my choice of subject or class-time during the year?
A: Yes, we will allow class changes up to Easter, subject to available places. Please contact our office to arrange any changes on 01-661 3511
Q: How long is each weekly grinds class?
A: Each class lasts 75 minutes.
Q: How much is the fee per subject?
A: This depends on the number of subjects taken. Please refer to the fees table to see a list of fees.
Q: Can I cancel my classes and get a refund?
A:Yes, though please note: Classes are taught for 29 weeks. A refund (or partial refund) can be given for requests made before Week 15, 8th January 2024. A request for a refund can be made by contacting our office on 01 6613511 or helpdesk@instituteofeducation.ie
Q: How many weeks of tuition are there in the weekly grinds course?
A: There are 29 weeks (29 classes) of tuition between September and May. Students will have 1 class per subject booked per week.
Q: Are there any breaks or holidays during the year for students attending weekly grinds or part-time courses?
A: Yes, the classes schedule generally follows the normal school calendar with breaks at mid-terms, Christmas & Easter. Please refer to the timetable for more details.
Q: If I start weekly grinds later in the year, will this be reflected in the fees I pay?
A: Yes, fees are reduced 3 times throughout the year. The website will always show the current, and up-to-date pricing.
Q: Is attendance at weekly grinds and part-time courses monitored?
A: Yes, attendance is monitored for each class attended. The Institute however accepts no responsibility for students who fail to attend class.
Q: What style are the classes conducted in? Can students ask questions?
A: Our classes run in a more lecture style than most students might be used to in school, but they are also interactive, and teachers will use a variety of methods to ensure that students can learn, understand and feel comfortable asking questions and contributing to the class.
Q: For weekly grinds, does the beginning of a new term mean the start of a new course?
A: No, in the weekly grinds each subject commences in September and runs through to the end of the academic year in May. Students can catch up with what they might have missed by participating in the Christmas, mid-term and Easter revision courses.
Q: If I want to join weekly grinds during the year, can you tell me what remains to be covered on the course and what the student has missed?
A: Yes, teachers have their own individual teaching plan for the year, and should be able to advise on this.
Q: What subjects would you recommend to take on as an extra subject?
A: The most popular subjects would be: Applied Maths; Economics; Business; Accountancy; Classical Studies and Agricultural Science.
Q: My son/daughter cannot attend the course. Can we buy the notes?
A: No. Teaching is a central part of all our courses. The notes are to facilitate recall and revision of the day’s work covered by the teacher.
My daughter attended classes at the Institute. She found the lessons to be excellent; well-structured and focused. The teachers were top-class and provided excellent advice and encouragement. The lecture notes are superb!
– Grainne (Parent)
I liked how interactive it was and how comprehensively all the material was covered. I thought the teacher was excellent.
– Ava, 5th Year Student
It was like being in the classroom even though I was at home. The course was very useful and the notes are incredible!
– Brian, 6th Year Student