Take the Lead

Everything you need to get ahead with the new specification

Written for the new Specification for Leaving Certificate Physical Education introduced in 2026.

What can you expect?

Written for the new Specification for Leaving Certificate Physical Education 2026
Frequent, scaffolded practical tasks deepen knowledge of Learning Outcomes through active participation in physical activity.
Write-in, templated Physical Activity Record where students can work individually and with others to analyse core concepts, set goals, reflect on progress and plan for improvement.
Support for assessment, including guidelines and activity log for completion of the Physical Education Project and SEC sample paper questions.
Comprehensive digital package including animated diagrams, fitness test procedure videos, and interactive questionnaires and self-evaluation tests.

Textbook

Sequenced according to the three strands of the new specification, divided into manageable, outcome-aligned chapters for easy lesson planning.
Learning Outcomes are noted at the outset of each chapter and broken down into learning intentions for students.
Off the blocks feature foregrounds existing knowledge, stimulates interest in new concepts and acts as an icebreaker for each chapter.
Tip boxes share useful memory aids for important information.
For the record case studies aid learning with engaging, up-to-date articles from the Irish and international sporting worlds, supported by comprehension and topic-based questions.
End-of-chapter questions employ a range of action verbs in appropriately pitched formative assessment for both Higher Level and Ordinary Level.

Physical Activity Record and Assessment Book

Safety guidelines and technology advice for easy reference ahead of physical activity.
Structured active participation for every chapter links and balances physical activity with theory, including relevant data collection tables, training diaries and self- evaluation forms.
Opportunities to work individually and with others to analyse core concepts, set goals, reflect on performance and progress and plan for improvement.
Student-friendly guidelines for the five stages of the additional assessment component (the Physical Education Project), including a write-in activity log with space to record and reflect on planning, engagement, skill proficiency and analysis, evaluation and communication.
PEP talk feature! flags important skills and tips encountered in practical tasks in preparation for the Physical Education Project.
SEC sample paper questions organised by chapter to provide ongoing familiarity with the range of question types in the new written examination.

Digital Resources

Additional material is available on Educateplus, including:
- Animated diagrams
- Fitness test procedure videos
- Interactive questionnaires and self-evaluation tests
- Visual summaries of each chapter
- Editable PowerPoints for each chapter
- Editable planning documents. Check out a sample Fifth Year scheme of work here

Teacher’s Resource Book

Clear information on the new Specification for Leaving Certificate Physical Education for introduction in 2026, with support for the Physical Education Project and written examination.
Planning resources, including schemes of work for Fifth Year and Sixth Year and blank templates.
Extra materials and chapter tests.
Teacher instructions for physical activities.
Solutions to all textbook and SEC sample paper questions.

Webinar

We recently held a webinar with Elaina Fusciardi and Gráinne Power, authors of Take the Lead. You can watch it here.

‘Clearly structured, student-friendly and well aligned with the specification. The real-world examples really bring it to life, and the diagrams and definitions are strong.’

Teacher Reviewer

‘Practical, experiential learning with activities that link directly to the LCPE specification, encourage self-monitoring and reflection, and link theory to personal behaviour.’

Teacher Reviewer

‘Effectively promotes self-awareness, critical thinking and evaluation of skills [and] links performance to well-being, motivation and holistic development, while being accessible to various abilities.’

Teacher Reviewer

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Take the Lead

Everything you need to get ahead with the new specification

What can you expect?

Textbook

Physical Activity Record and Assessment Book

Digital Resources

Teacher’s Resource Book

Webinar

About Us

Order Forms

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