Junior Cycle
The Junior Cycle is a three-year programme that provides students with a variety of engaging subjects and short courses to choose from.
It emphasises flexibility, equality, creativity, and innovation, offering students choice in their learning while fostering engagement, participation, continuity and development. The programme promotes inclusive education and prioritises the well-being of all students.
Key skills developed throughout the Junior Cycle include managing oneself, staying well, communicating effectively, being creative, working collaboratively, and managing information and thinking.
Subjects & Learning Areas
Students engage with a mix of core and optional subjects.
All students at Junior Cycle study the following Core Subjects:
- English
- Gaeilge
- Mathematics
- History
- Science
All students also study three of the following Optional Subjects:
- Engineering
- Home Economics
- Music
- Wood Technology
- Business Studies
- French
- Geography
- Graphics
- Art & Design
All students at Junior Cycle study the following Short Courses:
- Civic, Social & Political Education (CSPE)
- Social, Personal & Health Education (SPHE)
- Physical Education (PE)
- Coding
Depending on the demand in a given year, additional short courses can be offered:
- Artistic Performance
- Digital Media
- Literacy
- Forensic Science
- Enterprise in Animation
- Food Glorious Food
More details can be found at Short Courses | Curriculum Online
Assessment & Reporting
The Junior Cycle assessment model combines:
- Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs) – Focused on real-world application of learning
- Final Examinations – Conducted by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) in June of the third year.
- Other Areas of Learning Experiences – Extracurricular achievements and skill development.
We strive to accommodate students who may be unable to take the full range of subjects by doing our utmost to provide a reduced timetable, alongside tailored learning support during the required times.
Visit www.juniorcycle.ie for more information and the latest updates regarding the Junior Cycle.
You can also find all Junior Cycle subjects along with their individual links and specifications at the following page:
Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement
At the conclusion of their three years of learning at Junior Cycle, each student receives a Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) that includes their final exam results and CBA Grade Descriptors for all subjects and short courses, as well as details of their Other Areas of Learning.
CBA Grade Descriptors
Deciding the level of achievement for the Classroom-Based Assessments. There are four level descriptors of achievement for each CBA; teachers use the Features of Quality, set out in The Assessment Guidelines, for each subject to decide the level of achievement in each CBA. The Features of Quality are the criteria used to assess the student work as best fitting one of the following descriptors:
- EXCEPTIONAL: describes a piece of work that reflects 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: describes a piece of work that reflects all of the Features of Quality for the Classroom-Based Assessment very well. The student shows a clear understanding of how to complete each area of activity of the investigation, and the work is praised for its rigour. Feedback from the teacher might point to the necessity to address some aspect of the work in need of further attention or polishing, but overall, the work is of a high standard.
- 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: describes a piece of work that falls somewhat 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.
- NOT REPORTED: describes when a student has not submitted any piece of work for assessment.