The document discusses proposals for reforming the junior cycle curriculum in Irish secondary schools. It outlines the aims of examining required curriculum changes and planning a new curriculum with an emphasis on "Short Courses". It discusses principles like ensuring the curriculum actively engages students, is responsive to their needs and combines academic, social and vocational learning. Sample timetables are proposed that include core subjects and options, with the option of taking short courses in first year to allow students to sample subjects. The challenges and issues schools may face in implementing the new curriculum are also addressed.

1. Junior Cycle Education
A new curriculum
Opportunities and Challenges

2. Aims of the module
• Reflect on the “why” of the new
proposals
• Examine the required curriculum
changes
• Plan a new curriculum with particular
emphasis on “Short Courses”

3. School Matters
Research tells us that students who
risk disaffection at school respond best
to a curriculum that is holistic, that
actively engages them, that is
responsive to their needs, interests and
learning styles, that combines
integrated academic, social skills, and
vocational education with career
development and work-based learning.

4. Improving the Curriculum and Learning
Experience
All learners should also have regular opportunity
to engage with those learning approaches,
including
cooperative learning differentiated learning
active learning
problem-solving activity
which we know not only contribute to more
effective learning but increase learners’
participation and enjoyment of the learning
process
L&N Strategy p.43

5. Present Junior Cycle
Year
First year
Learning Challenge
Progress
Second year
Purpose
Third year
Product

6. The New Junior Cycle
• Innovation
• Identity
teachers and school
leaders as agents of
change
continuation from
primary school and
preparation for senior
cycle

7. Values
•
•
•
•
•
Equality and inclusion
Justice and fairness
Freedom and democracy
Respect for human dignity
Identity

8. Vision
“Junior cycle places students at the
centre of the educational experience,
enabling them to actively participate in
their communities and in society and to
be resourceful and confident learners in
all aspects and stages of their lives.”

10. Leaders of Learning
How, as a Leader of
Learning, can I influence
changes to the curriculum
and timetable?
Group Discussion 1

11. Challenges
Number of periods in the week
Teacher allocation and class size
Existing arrangements
A. Ps. On 18 hours
Room availability
Teacher with a single subject
Lack of teachers for a specific subject

12. Issues for Schools
 Reduced allocation - guidance?
 Changing to a 28 hour week
 Prior use of resource hours
 Class viability – what size? Eg 26 students opt
H.Ecs.
 PLC late uptake
 Lack of qualified SEN teachers
 Can school afford to drop a minority subject
 Smaller intake in first year
 More time for maths, 140 points!
 SPHE at senior cycle
 PE for all yeargroups
 Other ???

13. Curriculum ……Principles
Breadth
Challenge
Coherent
Depth
Personalisation
Progression
Relevance
covering a range of experiences
engage and motivate
draws different strands together
develop learner’s full capacity
allows for aptitudes and talents
builds on previous learning
present and future

14. NCCA…..Key Principles
•
•
•
•
•
•
Quality
Creativity and innovation
Choice and flexibility
Continuity
Engagement, relevance and enjoyment
Lifelong learning

16. Group Discussion 2
More of the same
or
improved teaching
and learning etc.

17. Framework Premise
• All schools moving at the same time
• All schools moving in the same direction
• All schools arriving at the same end point

18. Reduced Content
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Time for deeper understanding
Active learning and research
Varied teaching methodologies
Interdisciplinary themed learning
Emphasise literacy and numeracy
Practical relevant focus
Real linkage with Primary school

19. Question
What is the most useful
thing you ever learned ?

20. Student Answers
•
•
•
•
•
•
How to
How to
How to
How to
How to
How to
communicate
listen
stand up for myself
cope in different situations
mix with people
cook

21. The 1680 minute week
42 periods v 45 periods
42 x 40 minutes
or
15 x 38mins. + 30 x 37mins.

22. Core Subjects ?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Irish
English
Mathematics
Science
Language
History and/or Geography

23. Additional Core Subjects ?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Physical Education
Religious Education
ICT
Guidance
C.S.P.E.
S.P.H.E.

24. Core Subjects
Time Allocation
• Irish, English, Mathematics a minimum of
240 hours over 3 years,(say 96 weeks)
240 / 96 = 2.5 hours = 150 minutes
5 x 40 mins. = 200 minutes (320 hrs.)
5 x 37 mins. = 185 minutes (299 hrs.)

25. Other Subjects
Time Allocation
• 200 hour subjects
4 x 40 mins. = 160 mins.(256 hours)
4 x 37 mins. = 148 mins. (238 hours)

26. Short Courses……why?
• Open up a new area of learning
• Deepen students learning in areas
associated with existing subjects
• Develop the skills and capacities of
students
• Frame learning in specific activities, ie
Young Scientist

27. Short Courses…examples
•
•
•
•
•
•
Information and Communication Tech.
Physical and Health Education
Coastal Studies
The Arts
D. I. Y.
Entrepreneurial Studies

28. Short Courses
Time Allocation
100 hours
Over 3 years….....2 weekly periods
Over 2 years……..3 weekly periods

29. First Year
A general introduction to
second level education ?
Group Discussion 3

30. Option Subjects
• Normal subjects offered by the school
• New short courses, replacing or derived
from an existing option subject
• Retain the same number of option lines
• 2 short courses equal 1 subject
• If 2 option lines then students could
choose 0 or 2 or 4 short courses

31. Sample Curriculum (1) ?
Irish
English
Mathematics
Language
Science
History/Geography
Total
5
5
5
4
4
5?
28

32. Sample Curriculum(2)
R.E.
P.E.
S.P.H.E.
C.S.P.E.
I.C.T.
Rotation/Option1
Rotation/Option 2
Rotation in 1st year allows students to sample all option subjects

33. TIMETABLE SAMPLE 1
1
• DO 3 OPTION
SUBJECTS IN 1ST
YEAR
2
• PICK 2 OPTION
SUBJECTS OUT OF
THOSE 3 IN 2ND AND
3RD YEAR
3
• CHOOSE BETWEEN
HIST OR GEOG AT
END 1ST YR.

34. No. of
periods per
week
No. of
periods per
week
No. of
periods per
week
Yr 1
Yr 2
Yr 3
English
5
5
5
15
Irish
5
5
5
15
Maths
5
5
5
15
Religion
3
3
3
9
French / German
Science
4
4
4
4
4
4
12
12
History
3
3
3
9
Geog
3
SPHE/ CSPE
2
2
3
7
P.E.
2
2
2
6
SAMPLE 1
CORE SUBJECTS
Total periods
over 3 years
3
0
TOTAL CORE
36
33
34
OPT1
2
4
4
10
OPT2
2
4
4
10
Opt3
2
TUTORIAL ???
TOTAL PERIODS
OPT1, OPT2 & OPT3 IN FIRST YEAR
BUT PICK 2 OUT OF
THESE THREE AT THE END OF 1ST
YEAR
1
42
42
42

35. TIMETABLE SAMPLE 2
1
• DO 4 OPTION
SUBJECTS IN 1ST
YEAR
2
• PICK 2 OUT OF
THESE 4 OPTION
SUBJECTS IN 2ND
AND 3RD YEAR
3
• CHOOSE BETWEEN
HIST OR GEOG AT
END 1ST YR.

36. No. of
periods per
week
No. of
periods per
week
No. of
periods per
week
Yr 1
Yr 2
Yr 3
English
5
5
5
15
Irish
4
4
5
13
Maths
5
5
5
15
Religion
2
2
2
6
French / German
Science
4
4
4
4
4
4
12
12
History
2
4
4
10
Geog
2
ICT
2
2
1
5
P.E.
2
2
2
6
SPHE/ CSPE
2
2
2
6
TOTAL CORE
34
34
34
Opt1
2
4
4
10
OPT2
2
4
4
10
Opt3
2
Opt4
2
42
42
SAMPLE 2
CORE SUBJECTS
TOTAL PERIODS
42
Total periods
over 3 years
2

37. References
•
School Matters : The Report of the Task Force on Student Behaviour
2006 Department of Education and Science
•
Moving Up : The Experiences of First-Year Students in Post-Primary
Education 2004
Smyth, Emer / McCoy, Selina / Darmody, Merike
Liffey Press in association with the ESRI
•
Pathways through the Junior Cycle : The Experience of Second
Year
Students 2006
Smyth, Emer / Dunne, Allison / McCoy, Selina
/ Darmody Merike The Liffey Press in
association with the ESRI
– Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle : NCCA 2012
– Slides 33 to 36 : Ms. Rita McCabe