The Junior Cycle places the student at the centre of the learning process. The Junior Cycle is made up of newly developed subjects and short courses, a focus on literacy, numeracy and key skills, and new approaches of assessment and reporting. The Junior Cycle will also encompass a range of other learning experiences. Students will also engage in an area of learning entitled Wellbeing which was introduced for students starting first year in 2017. New subject specifications are being implemented in schools on a phased basis. We are now in the final phase of Junior Cycle reform.
HOW STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AT JUNIOR CYCLE WILL BE ASSESSED
Junior cycle students will receive a new Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA). The JCPA will report on a number of areas, including:
1. Subjects
2. Classroom Based Assessments
3. Short courses
4. Other Learning Experiences
CLASSROOM BASED ASSESSMENT TASKS
Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs) provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their learning and skills in ways not possible in a pen and paper examination, for example, their verbal communication and investigation skills. CBAs will be undertaken in subjects and short courses and will be facilitated by the classroom teacher. They will be undertaken during a defined time period within normal class contact time and to a national timetable. Students will complete one CBA in second year and one in third year in most subjects.
At the end of third year, students will sit the final SEC examination in June. CBAs will be reported on in the JCPA using the following descriptors:
Exceptional
Exceptional describes a piece of work that reflects all of the Features of Quality for the Classroom Based Assessment to a very high standard. While not necessarily perfect, the strengths of the work far outstrip its flaws, which are minor. Suggestions for improvement are easily addressable by the student.
Above Expectations
Above expectations describes a piece of work that reflects the Features of Quality for the Classroom Based Assessment very well. The student shows a clear appreciation of purpose and register, and the work is praised for its consistency. Feedback from the teacher might point to the necessity to address some aspect of the work in need of further attention or polishing, but, on the whole the work is of a high standard.
In Line with Expectations
In line with expectations describes a piece of work that reflects most of the Features of Quality for the Classroom-Based Assessment well. It shows a good understanding of the task in hand and is free from significant error. Feedback might point to areas needing further attention or correction, but the work is generally competent and accurate.
Yet to Meet Expectations
Yet to meet expectations describes a piece of work that falls someway short of the demands of the Classroom-Based Assessment and its associated Features of Quality. Perhaps the student has made a good attempt, but the task has not been grasped clearly or is marred by significant lapses. Feedback will draw attention to fundamental errors that need to be addressed.
SHORT COURSES
Schools may offer short courses on their junior cycle programme. A short course is designed for approximately 100 hours of student engagement across two or three years of the junior cycle. Short courses available include Coding, Digital Media Literacy, Artistic Performance, Civic, Social and Political Education, Physical Education and Social Personal and Health Education.
OTHER LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Students will have the opportunity to engage with a range of other learning experiences as part of their junior cycle programme and these can be recorded on the JCPA. These learning experiences could include student engagement in the business enterprise competition, a musical performance, a debating competition or being a member of school clubs.
Compulsory SubjectsOur students study the following subjects as core Junior Certificate subjects:
The students also take the following non-examination subjects:
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OptionsStudents select one from the following two modern languages
Students have chosen two subjects from the following choice subjects using the subject choice form:
Incoming first years will choose between one of the following two short courses:
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