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Course Descriptions Secondary

The Youth Academy is offering autumn courses for high-ability primary and secondary school students.

Dates and Times

Our secondary school courses run over a three-week period and take place on various dates between the 3rd October and 14th November. Please check the individual course details for the specific dates of each course.

Time: 10.00am-2.30pm

How to Apply

Applications are open on the 1st of September 2026 and will close on the 10th of September 2026.
Applications are made online via our application portal here
Offered places cannot be deferred to another term, or transferred to another child.

Fees and Scholarships

Secondary school courses will cost €200.

The Youth Academy offers a limited number of scholarships based on economic circumstances. Under this scheme, the Youth Academy covers 90% of the course fee, with parents/guardians contributing the remaining 10%.

If your child has a medical card, you are eligible to apply for one of these scholarship. Please apply via the online application form by uploading proof of your child's medical card details. You can take a photo/scan of your child's medical card and upload to the form. 25% of the total number of places we have on offer are allocated on a scholarship basis, so not all who apply for a scholarship will be successful.

Course Descriptions

Inside the mind - The psychology of you

Dates: October 3rd, 10th & 17th

Time: 10.00am-2.30pm

This course introduces students to psychology, the study of how we think, feel and behave.

Over three days, students will explore how the brain supports everyday thinking, how our personalities develop, and how our behaviour is influenced by the people and environments around us. Using real-life examples, the course helps students connect psychological ideas to their own experiences.

Through interactive activities, group tasks, and simple demonstrations, students will explore key areas of psychology including perception and memory, personality, development, and social influence. There will also be a focus on everyday decision-making, peer influence, and how to think more critically about information encountered online.

Across the three days, students will:

- Explore how the brain shapes perception, attention and memory

- Take part in activities looking at social influence, group behaviour and decision-making

- Consider personality and development, and how people change over time

Students will take part in practical exercises that give a sense of how psychologists study behaviour in real-world settings.

This course is suitable for students with an interest in people and behaviour. No prior knowledge is required.

Inside out: From Cells to Systems, A Journey Through the Human Body

Dates: October 31st, November 7th & 14th

Time: 10.00am-2.30pm

Did you know your body is like an amazing machine working 24/7, even when you’re asleep? In this three-day, hands-on workshop, we’ll go on an exciting journey to explore what’s happening inside you right now!

We’ll start small by looking at cells, the tiny building blocks that make up your body, and see how they team up to form different parts. Then we’ll follow the path of your food to discover how your body digests it and turns it into energy to keep you moving and playing.

Ever wondered how you breathe, move, or feel things? We’ll explore breathing, movement, and your five senses: how your eyes see, your ears hear, your nose smells, and more! You’ll also learn how your body fights off germs like a superhero through the immune system, and how you got your unique features through genetics. Along the way, we will even explore the fascinating world of medicine and how it helps our bodies heal and stay healthy.

With fun activities, cool experiments, and lots of “wow” moments, this workshop will help you understand your body like never before, because the more you know about it, the better you can take care of it!

Ready for the ultimate adventure? Dive into the fascinating world of health and medicine—the perfect playground for curious young scientists!

Game Makers: Learn to Code with Fun Projects

Dates: October 10th, 17th & 31st

Time: 10.00am- 2.30pm

This course introduces students to programming through the creation of engaging and interactive games using Microsoft MakeCode. Students will progress from designing and coding games to playing them on handheld consoles, building physical game controllers, and programming robot cars. Each session will focus on a practical project, allowing students to immediately apply new coding concepts. Through individual and group activities, students will develop creativity, logical thinking, problem-solving and debugging skills. The course is suitable for beginners, with no previous coding or gaming experience required.

Outcomes :

Understand fundamental programming and game-development concepts
Develop problem-solving and logical thinking skills through game design
Design and code interactive games using sprites, tile maps and game events
Build and customize game levels and environments
Transfer and play completed games on handheld consoles
Create physical game controllers using everyday materials
Program robot cars to move, follow lines and avoid obstacles
Use wireless controllers to operate robot cars
Test, debug and improve games and physical projects
Develop teamwork, creativity and problem-solving skills

You be the Judge: Thinking like a Lawyer

Dates: October 31st, November 7th & 14th

Time: 10:00am - 2:30pm

An ambulance races into a park, past a sign reading “No vehicles allowed.” Has it broken the rule? Lawyers argue about questions like this for a living. Over three days, so will you. Law isn't about memorising rules. It's a way of thinking, working out what a rule really means, deciding what is fair, and defending your answer when somebody pushes back.

Each morning, you'll find out how laws are made in Ireland, who has the power to enforce them, and what happens when two laws collide. You'll read real cases and work out how judges reached their decisions. You'll look at the rights you have, what a Garda can and cannot do, and how the law deals with discrimination and online harm.

Each afternoon, you'll take on a single legal case, building it up with your team, piece by piece, over the three days. On the final afternoon, you'll argue it out in a real moot court, with a panel of your classmates as judges, firing questions at you before deciding who won, and why.

No previous knowledge of law is needed. Just bring your questions and a willingness to argue your corner.