English

6th Year

Weekly Grind

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online Online Live-Stream
Our Leaving Cert English grinds will help you improve your grade by teaching you how to effectively approach and answer English exam questions. A common mistake in English is to focus solely on Paper 2 and neglect the 50% of your mark that comes from Paper 1. Our teachers will ensure you don't fall into this trap. As a Grinds student, you will also have access to the archive of class recordings, meaning you will never miss a class.

Maximise your potential with our Weekly Grinds! Proven to help students achieve top marks, our expert-led sessions give students the best chance at state exam success.

Improve Your Grades Improve Your Grades
Exam Focus Exam Focus
Exam Technique Exam Technique
Access Class Recordings Access Class Recordings
H1 Study Notes H1 Study Notes

How These Grinds Will Help You

Improve Your Grades: Our Grinds are specifically designed to improve performance in the State Exams. Students who attend our Grinds see an improvement of 23 CAO points on average. 

Exam Focus: We will cover the key points in every topic on the course curriculum with a specific focus on the material most likely to appear on the exam.

Exam Technique: We will show you the standard of question that you will be expected to answer in the exam and how to ensure you get all of the marks on offer.

Access Class Recordings: As a Grinds student, you will have full access to the archive of class recordings, meaning you will never miss a class.

H1 Study Notes: You will work from specially designed, exam–focused notes and sample questions, with fully worked solutions which will be an invaluable study resource.

Meet Your English Teacher

Gavin Cowzer

Gavin’s integration of language-learning skills based on the acquisition of language, such as phonics, provides all students with a strong foundation ensuring that they achieve the best possible grades in exams.

Gavin Cowzer is considered to be one of the leading English teachers in Ireland. Having a strong passion for the subjects, including obtaining a Master’s degree, Gavin’s style of teaching covers the syllabus in a clear and concise way, giving students the tools they need to successfully manage the likely exam questions. He has experience correcting exams, which gives his students an edge in a subject which is often assumed to be an art. Over the years, Gavin has developed a strict method to doing well in the English exam, which consistently helps his students reach great results. He has also been an expert contributor on Leaving Cert English for RTÉ Radio.

What Our English Grinds Cover

Our Leaving Cert English teachers will cover all aspects of the syllabus that you need to be aware of to achieve your full potential.

 

The skills and knowledge required for Paper 1 are explained in our English grinds in a way that minimizes anxiety surrounding the subject. The vocabulary required to achieve the H1 grade is taught in a way that makes you a comfortable user of language. As well as preparing you to answer the probable questions in the comprehension section, the composition (worth 25% of the entire grade) is extensively prepared for. 

 

By providing notes on all the poets on the course, all students are catered for. However, in the grinds, we focus on the poets that we expect to see on the paper. Shakespeare is prepared for by concentrating on question types and looking at what the syllabus and marking scheme requires of you.

 

The comparative study is covered in depth with classes taught on all of the modes of comparison. Leaving Cert English Notes are also provided on all the primary texts, and you will receive notes on how to differentiate your answers from other students.

 

The following topics will be covered:

 

Comprehending
Composing
Unseen Poetry
Studied Poetry
Single Text
Comparative

Grinds Fees

When Paid in Full

1st Subject
€1,099
2nd Subject
€549
3rd Subject
€549
4th Subject
€549
5th Subject
€549
6th Subject
€549

When Paid by Instalment Plan

1st Instalment
€476.23

Due: 23-06-2025

2nd Instalment
€366.33

Due: 28-10-2025

3rd Instalment
€366.33

Due: 16-02-2026

*The above table is for one subject, you can also book multiple subjects via instalments
**Paying in instalments will increase overall price

Where can you attend these grinds?

Our live, interactive grinds are available in two formats, both designed to offer you full engagement and access to top-quality instruction

 

In-Person: Join us in person at our Blackrock location for classroom-based grinds.

 

Online: Attend our grinds online, from anywhere in Ireland, with fully interactive live-streamed classes.

 

Whichever option you choose, you’ll be able to ask questions and interact with our teachers throughout each 75-minute session. All classes come with our renowned Dublin Academy study notes. If you attend via live-stream, we’ll post the notes to your home at no extra charge. As a Grinds student, you will also have access to the archive of class recordings, meaning you will never miss a class.

 

Our Leaving Cert grinds focus on what's essential for the exams. Our teachers cut through the unnecessary material to concentrate solely on the core content, helping you maximize your exam performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the schedule for grinds?

Start Date:
Classes commence week beginning Monday 1st September 2025.

 

Please note, classes will NOT be held on the following dates:

 

Mid-Term Breaks:
Monday 27th October- classes resume Monday 3rd November 2025
Monday 16th February – classes resume Monday 23rd February 2026

Christmas Holidays:
Monday 8th December 2025 – classes resume on Monday 5th January 2026

Easter Holidays:
Monday 30th March - Sunday 12th April 2026

Final Classes:
Saturday 16th May 2026


Please note grinds take place as normal on bank holidays

Can students ask questions in grinds?

Yes. Regardless of whether students are attending grinds in person or online via live-stream they will be free to ask our teachers questions.

How long are the grinds?

Leaving Cert weekly grinds are 75 minutes in duration. Junior Cert grinds are 60 minutes in duration.

Can I get recordings of the grinds?

As a Grinds student, you will have full access to the archive of class recordings, meaning you will never miss a class.

Can I change my choice of subject for my grind during the year?

Yes, however, please note that an administration charge of €25 will apply if a student decides to change their choice of subject during the year.

How do I access my live-streamed grinds and recordings?

You will access your live-streamed grinds and recrodings via our online learning management system, DASH (Dublin Academy School Hub). We will send you login details for this platform in advance of your grind.

If I opt for live-streamed grinds, how do I get my study notes?

Your study notes will be posted to your house free of charge in advance of your live-streamed grinds commencing. Please note, study notes will take up to 3 working days to arrive from the time of booking.

Can I try out the weekly grinds for free before signing up?

Yes, all students can attend a free trial of our weekly grinds to ensure they are happy with the service.

Do Weekly Grinds take place on bank holiday Mondays?

Yes, weekly grinds take place as scheduled on bank holidays and public holidays throughout the year.

Hear from our English Students

“Gavin was the best teacher I've ever had, it was a really enjoyable year of grinds that definitely helped me achieve a higher grade than I would have received had I not signed up to the grinds.”

Attended Gavin's English Grinds

“Gavin took the content from the texts we were learning and put it in conversational and understandable form which was great for learning English, I got a H1 in English and I know myself this would not have been close to possible without these grinds.”

Attended Gavin's English Grinds