Pilot senior school in Irpin: a chance for hands-on learning after 9th grade
Irpin Lyceum of Innovative Technologies announced enrollment for 10th grades as part of a pilot project — we explain who can apply, what the conditions are, and why this is important for the reform of the senior profile secondary school.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
March 9, 2026 · 2 min read
Brief and important
Irpin Lyceum of Innovative Technologies (ILIT) is opening admissions to 10th grades as part of a pilot model of the senior profile school. This is not just a local initiative — the lyceum's selection for the pilot confirms the intent to systematically test a new approach to education after 9th grade.
“Education under the pilot model lasts three years — from 10th to 12th grade. Within the pilot we set a reduced threshold score, because we are primarily looking for students who are motivated to learn.”
— Irpin Lyceum of Innovative Technologies (Telegram channel)
Who they're looking for and how to apply
Within the project only two classes are being formed, so the number of places is limited. Only ninth-grade students may apply. Applications are accepted until March 13. The lyceum separately emphasizes: applications from parents for admission to grades 7, 8, 9 and 11 are accepted until June 5 inclusive.
Why this matters
This pilot is part of a broader reform of the senior profile school, which "ITV" wrote about: after 9th grade students will be able to choose a track with a greater emphasis on practical competencies, fewer extraneous subjects, and more preparation for a profession and for real life. For families, this means an opportunity to obtain an education that is closer to the labor market and to the child's personal needs.
Context and trust
Choosing the Irpin Lyceum specifically for the pilot is a signal of trust in the school as an institution capable of implementing the new model. Education analysts point out: pilot projects are important not only temporarily, but as a source of practice for scaling effective solutions into the national standard.
What parents and students should do
If you plan to apply — check the admission requirements and be sure to submit documents by March 13. If not — follow the pilot's results: successful practices are quickly copied by other schools and can change opportunities for graduates across the country.
Summary
The ILIT pilot is not just another intake of classes. It is a test of a model intended to make upper secondary school more practical and oriented toward professional trajectories. The question remains open: how quickly will successful practices be scaled up to other regions and institutions?
