Introduction to Junior Cycle
Junior Cycle education (lower secondary education) is compulsory and is usually taken by students between the ages of 12 and 15. Schools and colleges follow the national curriculum set down by the Department of Education and Science.
Students sit the Junior Certificate examination, which is a state examination, in June of their third year. The Department of Education and Science (DES) set the examination papers, supervise the examinations and monitor the correction of the exam papers. Results are usually issued to schools around the second week in September following the examination.
Aims of the Junior Certificate Programme:
The Junior Cycle aims to:
- Reinforce and further develop in the young person the knowledge, understanding, attitudes, skills and competencies acquired at primary level
- Extend and deepen the range and quality of the young person's educational experience in terms of knowledge, understanding, skills and competencies.
- Develop the young person's personal and social confidence, initiative and competence through a broad, well balanced, general education
- Prepare the young person for the requirements of further programmes of study, employment or of life outside fulltime education
- Contribute to the moral and spiritual development of the young person and develop a tolerance and respect for the values and beliefs of others
- Prepare the young person for the responsibilities of citizenship in the national context and in the context of the wider European and global communities.
Junior Cycle Core Examination Subjects:
All students take these subjects and sit them in the Junior Certificate examination.
- Gaeilge
- English
- Maths
- Science
- Modern Languages: French/Spanish/German
- History
- Geography
- Religious Education
Modern Languages:
If a sufficient number of students wished to study a second modern language, we would endeavour include it as one of our option subjects. These students would then choose the second modern language and only one other option subject from the list.
Core Non Examination Subjects:
- PE (Physical Education)
- SPHE (Social, Personal and Health Education)
- CSPE (Civic, Social and Political Education)
- Wellbeing
Junior Cycle Option Subjects:
Students choose two from the following list of option subjects.
- Art, Craft and Design
- Business Studies
- Home Economics
- Music
- Technology
- Materials Technology Wood
- Metalwork
- Technical Graphics
- Digital Media Literacy/Coding
A second modern language-if sufficient numbers of students request this option
Choosing your Option Subjects:
Talk to your parent(s)/guardian(s)-they know you really well and will be able to advise you. Think about what you like doing. What are your hobbies? Read the descriptions of each subject-which one sounds interesting to you?
Be careful about taking advice from friends-they are not you, and they do not have your talents or abilities. You need to choose what's best for you, not what suits your friend. A subject that is perfect for your friend may not suit you at all.
When you make your choice, if you find that a subject is not what you expected, please come and talk to us and we will see what we can do to change this option.