1. New Junior Cycle Information for Parents
Leo Hogan

2. Contents of this Presentation
Why change is needed in Junior Cycle
What will be different?
Key Skills and Statements of Learning
Curriculum and Assessment
Wellbeing

3. Why Change?
ESRI research
Many students are turned off learning in Junior Cert
The JC exam is dominating teaching and learning in many Irish classrooms
There is too much emphasis on covering content
The world has changed
There is a narrow range of assessment activity - lots of tests!

4. What will be different for your child?
Smoother transition from primary to post-primary
More actively involved in their learning
Investigative approaches rather than being told
Greater emphasis on literacy, numeracy and the key skills
Assessment – nearer in time and place to the learning
Improved feedback and reporting to parents/guardians

5. New Junior Cycle (NJC)
8 Key Skills to be taught by all teachers in all subjects and Short Courses
Should be included in all subject planning documents – already explicit in new Subject & Short Course Specifications
If you are teaching an old syllabus, you are still required to teach Key Skills

6. 24 Statements of Learning (SoL)
A subject will only be able to cover some of these Statements
Subjects with a new Specification show which statements are covered but if you are using an old syllabus…….
Note: There are 12 other SoLs. These are the 24 Learning Outcomes that your curriculum must be able to provide for all students

7. The New Curriculum English, Irish & Maths Min 240 Hours Other Subjects
02/12/2018
The New Curriculum
English, Irish & Maths
Min 240 Hours
Other Subjects
Min 200 Hrs
Level 2 PLUs
Min 250 Hrs
Short Courses
Approx Hrs
Wellbeing
300 hours, rising to 400 hours

8. Maths, English & Irish will have HL and OL
Maths, English & Irish will have HL and OL. All other subjects and Short Courses examined at Common Level
While there is no limit on the number of subjects a student may study, he/she can be assessed in a maximum of:
10 subjects
9 Subjects and 2 Short Courses
8 Subjects and 4 Short Courses
Certification

9. Changes in Student Assessment
Each subject will have two CBAs, one at the end of 2nd Year and the other before Christmas in 3rd Year. SC have 1 CBA only.
Each CBA will be followed by a Subject Learning And Review (SLAR) meeting
The results of the CBAs will be communicated to students and parents and kept on record in the school.
The results that are communicated to the students will be formative, giving a clear outline of how improvements can be made
The CBA in 3rd Year will be followed by an Assessment Task (AT), which will be forwarded to the State Exams Commission (SEC) in June
The students will receive the results of the terminal exam (which includes the AT) in mid-September from the SEC

10. Student Assessment contd.
In Sept/Oct/Nov, the school will upload the data it holds on each of the students through the Post-Primary Online Database (P-POD)
Each CBA
Short Courses, if any
Priority Learning Units, if any
Other Areas of Learning
This data will be added to the SEC results and a final cert – Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) will issue to the student by Christmas

11. Grades CBA Junior Cycle Distinction 90-100% Higher Merit 75 – 89%
Achieved – 54%
Partially Achieved – 39%
Not Graded Less than 20%
Exceptional
Above expectations
In line with expectations
Yet to meet expectations
Grades in CBAs are awarded based on Features of Quality and following a SLAR meeting. There are no corresponding marks.

12. JCPA

13. Classroom Based Assessment (CBA) & Subject Learning And Review (SLAR) Requirements 2017/18
2nd Year
3rd Year
English
April/May
CBA (Teacher assessed)
Nov/Dec
CBA (Teacher)+ AT (SEC)
Science
N/A
Business
Assesment Task + Final exam = grade on JCPA. Results of CBAs reported to parents during during NJC and in JCPA. Should replace summer and Christmas tests in these subjects. CBAs at common level.

14. Phased Introduction of Subjects/Courses
Year
Subject/Course
JCPA
2014
English
2017
2016
Science & Business Studies
2019
Gaeilge, MFL, Art, Wellbeing
2020
2018
Maths, Home Ec, Music, History, Geography
2021
2019
Technology Subjects, RE, Classics, Jewish Studies
2022

15. Wellbeing – Key Points Every teacher has a role
300 hours, rising to 400 hours
Every school required to publish a Wellbeing Programme this year, based on inputs from students, staff and parents
Includes PE, SPHE, CSPE and an element of Guidance
May include aspects of other subjects but, if so, a rationale must be produced (using Appendix I from the Guidelines)