Grind your way to better marks
A leading Cork online education business has this week announced plans for more accessible exam preparation for the new academic year.
Grinds360 aims to make the highest level of tuition available to students in Cork and across Ireland, to create a more level playing field for students and families preparing for the Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations.
With approximately 17,600 Cork students expected to sit the Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate in 2027, the company said it believes every student should have access to high-quality tuition, regardless of geography or family income.
At a time when many households are managing the cost of back-to-school expenses, grinds and exam preparation, the Grinds360 model is designed to democratise access to expert teaching by making high-quality support affordable, accessible and capable of being planned financially across the academic year.
Grinds360 will offer one annual membership covering all Leaving Certificate subjects and all Junior Cycle subjects available on the platform. The current annual membership is listed at €1,099 and includes live and on-demand classes, revision courses and learning resources. Payment options are also available through the Grinds360 website, helping families to plan the cost of support over the school year.
The platform brings together experienced subject teachers, live weekly grinds, on-demand lessons, exam-focused notes, revision courses, workshops and learning resources through a single annual membership. This allows students to access support across multiple subjects without families having to purchase separate grinds on a subject-by-subject basis.
Rónán Murdock, Chief Executive of Grinds360, said: "The ambition behind Grinds360 is very simple: to make additional support available to every student in every county in Ireland. We want to create a more level playing field by giving students access to our expert teachers and resources all in one place. In May, before the Leaving Cert exams, we ran over 200 revision classes for our members with a number of classes made free for non-members so we could help as many students as possible.”
He added: “A student may also need help in more than one subject during the year, and that can become expensive very quickly if everything is bought separately. Grinds360 gives students a clear structure for the year and gives parents greater control over the cost.”
In 2026, a total of 146,553 registered for state examinations in Ireland, with 71,698 sitting the Leaving Certificate and 74,855 sitting the Junior Certificate. It is anticipated that these numbers will be similar for 2027. The estimated 2027 figure for Cork is 8,600 for the Leaving Certificate and 9,000 for the Junior Certificate.
The 2026/27 academic year will be an important cycle for tens of thousands of students preparing for the Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations. Grinds360 says early planning, regular attendance at live grinds, use of recorded lessons and access to structured revision materials can support stronger exam preparation and reduce pressure on families as the year progresses.
The company is also drawing attention to the value of digital learning and hybrid delivery in widening educational access. By combining online teaching with in-person classes and workshops, Grinds360 says students can access high-quality exam preparation whether they live in a major urban centre or a smaller community elsewhere in Ireland.
Commentary from the Department of Education said that it will continue to steadily phase out the pandemic-era post-marking grade adjustments. This means aggregate top marks in 2027 are expected to be intentionally driven lower than in 2026.