Junior Cycle

Curriculum – Junior Certificate

Beginning on a phased basis since September 2014, the new Junior Cycle features revised subjects and short courses, a focus on key skills, and new approaches to assessment and reporting. Schools have more freedom to design junior cycle programmes that meet the learning needs of all students. For students, the new junior cycle means that the curriculum available in their schools is a mix of subjects and short courses as well as other learning experiences.

For students, the new junior cycle means that the curriculum available in their schools is a mix of subjects and short courses as well as other learning experiences and focuses on the Key Skills required to help them face the many challenges presented to them in today’s world.

The 6 Key Skills of Junior Cycle are laid out below

How will students know they are learning

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Here in BCS, First Year Students are given a ‘taster’ of each subject to experience the full range of subjects available, in order to better inform their future subject choices.

The following subjects are available at Junior Cycle. (Could these be displayed in 2 columns?)

• Gaeilge
• English
• Maths
• History
• Geography
• Science
• French
• German
• Home Economics
• Metalwork
• Woodwork
• Business Studies
• Art, Craft & Design
• Music
• CSPE
• SPHE
• Religious Education
• Physical Education

Find detailed information on subjects at curriculumonline.ie and on jct.ie.

Classroom Based Assessments

These take place in 2^nd and 3^rd Year for students and descriptors are awarded which appear on the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) along with exam results and information on Other Learning Experiences.

More information can be accessed here  https://www.jct.ie/publications/publications

Wellbeing

The Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) provides for a new area of learning at Junior Cycle called Wellbeing.

Wellbeing will cross the three years of Junior Cycle and build on substantial work already taking place in schools such as Ballincollig Community School in support of students’ wellbeing.

This area of learning will make the school’s culture and ethos and commitment to wellbeing visible to students. It will include learning opportunities to enhance the physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing of students. It will enable students to build life skills and develop a strong sense of connectedness to their school and to their community.

The junior cycle Wellbeing programme will began with 300 hours of timetabled engagement in 2017 and is building up to 400 hours by 2020 as the new Junior Cycle is implemented fully in schools.

The Wellbeing Guidelines 2017 has identified 6 indicators as follows: