Junior Cycle

The Junior Cycle curriculum at The High School is delivered in Forms 1, 2, and 3.  All pupils attend classes in the following subjects:

English; Irish; Mathematics; History; Geography; General Science; Religious Education; Physical Education; and Social, Personal, and Health Education (SPHE).

The first eight of the above subjects will be assessed in Forms 2 and 3.  Two further subjects are chosen and studied until the end of Form 3, one from each of the following option groups: 

Group A  -  Art, Craft, and Design; Business Studies; Classical Studies; French; Home Economics; Materials Technology (Wood); and Music.           

Group B  -  Art, Craft, and Design; Business Studies; French; German; and Technical Graphics.

The new Junior Cycle will place the pupil at the centre of the learning process.  It allows for new ways of learning and a broader range of skills to be properly assessed. One major change in the new Junior Cycle is the introduction of Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs). CBAs provide pupils with opportunities to demonstrate their learning and skills in ways not possible in a pen-and-paper examination, for example, their verbal communication and investigation skills. CBAs will be undertaken in most subjects and will be facilitated by the classroom teacher. They will be undertaken during a defined time period within normal class contact time according to a national time frame. Pupils will generally complete one set of CBAs in Form 2 and one set in Form 3 (with the exception of Gaeilge which features both CBAs in Form 3).

The enclosed document outlines the windows for completion of the CBAs for the academic year 2019-20 and highlights some important points. Pupils must submit their own individual work for their CBA. They may be permitted to work in groups but the final work submitted must be their own which will be overseen by their teacher. Once the second CBA is completed in Form 3 pupils will complete a written Assessment Task (AT). The AT, set by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), is undertaken during normal class time and is marked by the State Examinations Commission (SEC). The Assessment Task is worth 10% of the overall mark in the case of most subjects. At the end of Form 3 pupils will sit the State Examinations in all subjects commencing on Wednesday 3 June 2020. The outcome of the CBA process will be reported in the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA).

Ms V B Connolly
Deputy Principal

CBA dates for Form 3, 2019-20

Points to note:

• The majority of subjects engage with Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs) in Forms 2 and 3. The CBA is marked by subject teachers.
• Most subjects have a 3-4 week window to complete their CBA. The practical subjects have a longer window to complete their CBA.
• Gaeilge have both CBA 1 and CBA 2 in Form 3.
• The Assessment Task (AT) is administered during class time in Form 3. It is marked by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).

CBA dates for Form 2, 2019-20