English teachers are to get an extra year of in-service training to help them cope with delivery of the new Leaving Cert course which began in schools this month.

Following discussions with the ASTI, the Department of Education has notified its 13 in-service trainers of this development. Co-ordinated and organised by the Laois Education Centre in Portlaoise, the programme will now continue over two years, focusing in particular on the newest feature - the study of film. Videos have been prepared with clips of the films, for presentation to teachers at in-service days.