General Subject Information
Teachers:
Marianne Gardiner
Tim Collins
Meabh McCarthy
Agricultural Science teaches students about agriculture, food and natural resources. It is a subject that is constantly changing and is available to all students from both farming and non-farming backgrounds. While all topics on the syllabus are covered, the latest relevant developments in agriculture are also introduced.
Agricultural Science was reintroduced on the Gort Community School timetable September 2016 and is also currently available as an after school subject option for the current Leaving Certificate cohort.
It is a two year Leaving Certificate course during which students complete a project (worth up to 25% of their final grade) on a chosen farm. The other 75% is achievable through the written Leaving Certificate exam.
Senior Cycle
The project (25%)
This is completed continuously over 2 years and includes:
1. Identification of plant and animal types. Students will be able to answer questions such as:
Why is the Liver fluke important to Irish Agriculture?
What are the main Beef breeds in Ireland and why are they favoured?
2. Practical Experience- Candidates are required to demonstrate in their projects that they have gained practical experience in the areas of crops, livestock and farm layout.
Two crops are chosen from a specified list including cereals, potatoes (or any root crop), grasslands etc.
The student will choose one type of livestock enterprise in which to gain practical experience, such as Beef, Dairy, Sheep or Pig enterprises.
Candidates will present a sketch plan of the farm house and buildings and the whole farm. They must be able to discuss the farm buildings and how they provide the environmental conditions required on the farm and the physical/aesthetic layout of the house in relation to the farm.
3. Scientific Investigations
A number of experiments/investigations are carried out over the two year period in the following areas:
Ecology
Soil Science
Plant Physiology
Animal Physiology
Genetics
Microbiology
The Written Exam (75%)
The curriculum will cover a broad range of Agricultural Science topics to include:
Soils
Plant identification and physiology
Tillage and crops
Forestry, Ecology and the Environment
Animal Production (to include Beef, Dairy, Sheep and Pigs)
Animal Physiology
Genetics
Current Issues
Click here for the Leaving Certificate syllabus.
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