The document discusses Ireland's Junior Cycle education program. It provides information on: 1. The phased introduction of the new Junior Cycle, which features new subjects and assessments compared to the traditional Junior Cert exam. 2. The Junior Cycle focuses on wellbeing and uses Classroom Based Assessments, profiles of achievement, and other methods rather than solely exams. 3. Learning is informed by 24 statements and 8 principles, with an emphasis on 8 key skills like literacy, numeracy, creativity and more.

1. 1Management Resource Teacher - Lisa Mc Carthy

2.  Junior Cert traditional State Exam for
3rd Year students
 Junior Cycle – first introduced in 2014
features new subjects and short
courses
 Phased introduction
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3.  New approaches to assessment &
reporting
 Emphasis on Wellbeing
 Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement
(JCPA)
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4.  Learning in the Junior Cycle will be
informed by:
 Twenty-four statements of learning
that describe what your child should
know, understand and value having
participated in the Junior Cycle
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5.  Eight principles that underpin the entire
Framework for Junior Cycle
 Eight key skills that are required for
successful learning by all students
 Further details relating to these or any of
tonight’s presentation can be found on
www.jct.ie
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6.  Creativity and Innovation
 Learning to Learn
 Choice and Flexibility
 Quality
 Engagement & Participation
 Continuity and Development
 Inclusive Education
 Wellbeing
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7.  Being Literate
 Being numerate
 Managing Information and Thinking
 Being Creative
 Working with Others
 Managing Myself
 Staying Well
 Communicating
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8. 1. State Examination Commission (SEC)
examinations of subjects
2. Classroom Based Assessments (CBA)
including subjects and short courses
3. Other Areas of Learning (OAL’s)
4. Priority Learning Units (PLU’s) – Those
Students doing a reduced curriculum 8

9. Undertaken by students on a reduced
curriculum with specific learning needs
1. Communication & Literacy
2. Numeracy
3. Personal Care
4. Living in a Community
5. Preparing for Work
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10.  JCPA-Sample
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11.  10 subjects for examination in 2019–
combination of Junior Cycle and Junior Cert
 Other Areas of Learning (OAL’s) e.g.
 membership of school council
 participation on school team
 membership of school club
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12. Junior Cycle Exams
 English -compulsory
 Science
 Business Studies
Junior Cert Exams
 Home Economics
 Music
 History - compulsory
 Geography - compulsory
 Maths – compulsory
 Visual Arts/Art Craft &
Design
 Irish - compulsory
 French
 German
 CSPE - compulsory
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13.  9 subjects for examination in 2020 –
combination of Junior Cycle and Junior Cert
 Wellbeing – 1 Tutorial class, 1 SPHE class, 1
CSPE class & 1 double PE class
300 Hours over 3 years
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14. Other Areas of Learning (OAL)e.g.
› membership of school council
› participation on school team
› membership of school club
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15. Junior Cycle Exams
 English -compulsory
 Science
 Business Studies
 Visual Arts/Art Craft &
Design
 Irish - compulsory
 French
 German
Junior Cert Exams
 Home Economics
 Music
 History -compulsory
 Geography - compulsory
 Maths – compulsory
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16.  1 exam in June (approx 2 hours) – 90%
 1 Classroom Based Assessment –
March/April of 2nd year (CBA1)
 1 Classroom Based Assessment –
December of 3rd year (CBA2)
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17.  Following on from CBA2 -Assessment
Task – reflective journal must be
written up based on this task and this
is worth 10% of overall result in June
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18.  Distinction (90-100 %)
 Higher Merit (75 -89%)
 Merit (55-74%)
 Achieved (40-54%)
 Partially Achieved (20-
39%)
 Not graded (0-19%)
 A (85-100%)
 B (70-84%)
 C (55-69%)
 D (40-54%)
 E (25-39%)
 F (10-24%)
 NG (0-9%)
Junior Cycle -Apart from Irish,
English & Maths, other subjects
common paper – Descriptors
Junior Cert - Higher &
Ordinary Levels - Grades
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19.  Different for every subject – 3 or 4
weeks timeframe
 Examples
Business CBA1 is a group written report
on a business idea & CBA2 is an
individual oral presentation on a
business idea
English CBA1 individual/group oral
presentation
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20.  Work on CBA done mainly in school
 Once completed, the Subject
Department, using guidelines from the
Dept. of Education & Skills will award
descriptors
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21.  These are then reported in Summer
Report (CBA1) & Christmas Report
(CBA2)
 The Assessment Task (AT) Booklet
kept by school and sent off with final
exam in June (10%)
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22. Features of quality – guidelines to
follow when awarding descriptor
 Exceptional
 Above Expectations
 In line with Expectations
 Yet to meet Expectations
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23.  Schools will organise ‘Subject Learning &
Assessment Review’ meetings
 Schools will be supported by a team of
assessment associates from the Junior Cycle
for Teachers
 Continuous Professional Development
(CPD) will be provided for teachers to
ensure CBAs align to a national standard
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24. Thank You!
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