Junior Cycle

Junior Cycle

For the Junior Cycle student, the curriculum will be a mix of subjects and short courses along with other learning experiences. For a small group of students with special educational needs, priority learning units (PLUs) will be provided. The Junior Cycle curriculum components will enable the 24 Statements of Learning (see jct.ie) literacy and numeracy and other key skills, to become a reality for students throughout their three-year junior cycle.

Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs)

Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs) of subjects (and Short Courses if offered) will take place in most subjects during both 2nd and 3rd Year. These will provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their understanding and skills in a way which would not be possible in a formal examination.

Exams

Exams will be set, held and marked by the State Examinations Commission in June of third year. English, Irish and Maths specified at Higher and Ordinary levels. All other subjects specified at a Common Level with exam duration of 2 hours or less.

Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA)

Students will be issues a Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (replacing the old Junior Certificate) which will list subject results and descriptors from CBAs. It will also note Other Areas of Learning which can include sporting achievements, students’ council work, green school etc.

Subjects on Offer

The following are Subjects on offer at present but some may be offered as a short course in line with school resources and student demand.

Note: A special feature of Mount Saint Michael is our Modular System where each first year student gets a chance to study all the Option Subjects each for a month, so every student experiences every subject. At the end of three months students will be in a good position to make their final choices having experienced all the subjects. So parents and students can make an informed choice about subjects. Almost all students get their first choice of subjects except where numbers exceed places in any particular subject. The following are optional subjects that have been offered, however, the level of demand and resources available determines on availability from year to year.

Options – all examined at Common level

• French
• Music
• Home Economics
• Wood Technology
• Business
• Music
• Engineering
• Graphics
• Art, Craft & Design

The provision of these subjects is in accordance with the school’s resources and allocations and therefore is subject to change.

JCPA – New Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement

For the junior cycle student, the new junior cycle (Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement) will mean that the curriculum available in their schools will be a mix of subjects and short courses and other learning experiences. For a small group of students with special educational needs, priority learning units (PLUs) will be provided. As schools plan a new junior cycle programme they will choose curriculum components that will enable the 24 statements of learning, literacy and numeracy and other key skills to become a reality for students throughout their three-year junior cycle.

Key Skills for JCPA

Key skills help learners develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to face the many challenges in today’s world. They also support students in learning how to learn and to take responsibility for their own learning.

Key Skills Teaching Toolkits

• Managing Information and Thinking
• Managing Myself
• Working with others
• Communicating
• Being creative
• Staying safe

24 Statements of Learning

The student
1 communicates effectively using a variety of means in a range of contexts in L1*
2 listens, speaks, reads and writes in L2* and one other language at a level of proficiency appropriate to ability
3 creates, appreciates and critically interprets a wide range of texts
4 creates and presents artistic works and appreciates the process and skills involved
5 has an awareness of personal values and an understanding of moral decision making
6 appreciates and respects diverse values and traditions
7 values active citizenship
8 values heritage and understands change
9 understands social, economic and environmental impacts
10 promotes sustainability
11 safeguards wellbeing
12 participates in physical activity
13 understands healthy lifestyle choices
14 makes informed financial decisions
15 applies mathematical understanding
16 interprets patterns and relationships
17 solves problems using maths
18 evaluates evidence and draws conclusions
19 values science and technology
20 uses technology in design
21 develops practical skills
22 shows initiative and innovation
23 develops ideas into reality
24 uses digital tools responsibly

Assessment

Assessment in education is about gathering, interpreting and using information about the processes and outcomes of learning. It takes different forms and can be used in a variety of ways, such as to test and certify achievement, to determine the appropriate route for students to take through a differentiated curriculum or to identify specific areas of difficulty (or strength) for a given student. Assessment in the new junior cycle will be linked, on an everyday basis, into the learning taking place.

Students should be more involved in, and more responsible for, gathering and presenting evidence of that learning. In general terms, the teacher’s role lies in giving feedback on and reporting on, evidence of learning. And some of the results of assessment activity in schools should also be used for certification purposes.

Teachers use a variety of assessment tools to gather information about students’ learning. Asking questions, giving written tests at the end of units of study, setting and correcting homework assignments are all forms of assessment with which teachers are familiar. Teachers use the results of this assessment to inform students on their progress, to report to parents and to plan future classroom activities.

However, recent advances in our understanding of learning have led to a shift from assessment of learning to assessment for learning, providing feedback to help students improve.