The new junior cycle, which has been phased in incrementally since 2014, features newly developed subjects and short courses, with a focus on key skills, and new approaches to assessment and reporting.
Junior Certificate
The Junior Certificate examination is held at the end of the Junior Cycle in post-primary schools. The Junior Cycle caters for students in the 12 to 15 year old age group. Students normally sit for the examinations at the age of 14 or 15, after three years of post-primary education. Information on the new junior certificate and its format can be found online here.
Subjects Available to First Year – Examination Subjects
- Irish,
- English,
- Mathematics,
- Science,
- Wood Technology,
- Business Studies,
- History,
- Home Economics,
- Engineering,
- French,
- Civic Social and Political Education,
- Art,
- Technology.
Short Courses
Currently we offer a number of short courses to students at Junior Certificate level, these courses include:
- Coding,
- Digital Media,
- Care of Animals,
- Forensic Science.
Classroom-based assessments
During second and third year, students complete a number of classroom-based assessments.
For a small group of students with special educational needs, priority learning units (PLUs) are provided. These components will enable the statements of learning, literacy and numeracy and other key skills to be become a reality for the students throughout their three-year junior cycle.
A timetable for student CBAs is available here
Non Examination Subjects
- Physical Education,
- Social Personal and Health Education,
- Religion.
Extra Curricular Activities
Sports Hurling, Soccer, Badminton, Basketball, Athletics, Gaelic Football, Table Tennis, Golf
Other Activities Guitar lessons, School Concerts, Fashion show, Debating and Public Speaking, Poetry Competitions and quizzes.
Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP)
The Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) is designed to help students to perform to the best of their abilities in Junior Cycle. It uses statements to make each topic accessible. With these statements, the whole junior cycle course is completed in manageable steps and the student’s success is recorded and rewarded along the way.
JCSP is tailored to bring out the best in each student and to keep up interest while maintaining learning in an enjoyable way. The goals are short-term and students can see themselves making progress- and they get to experience success regularly with the awarding of certificates and getting the odd postcard home.
In addition, each student’s achievements are recorded and stored in a folder over the three years. This information is used to award an individual certificate to each student to complement their regular Junior Cycle results.
Parents can help by working with the school in encouraging good attendance, punctuality, homework completion and also by encouraging relaxed reading for 15 to 20 minutes a night.
