Junior Cycle

The purpose of education in Junior Cycle is to develop in students a love of learning, to empower them to become better learners, to help them develop skills for learning and for life and to use assessment to support learning.

Throughout the course of the Junior Cycle students will develop eight key skills in all subjects and short courses. At Killorglin Community College students study nine subjects and two short courses. Students study English, Irish, Maths, History, Science and four optional subjects of their choice. English, Irish and Maths are studied at Higher or Ordinary level and all other subjects are studied at a Common level. Students study two short courses, the school designed Computing Fundamentals short course and a Physical Education short course.

Students choose four optional subjects from the following:

The central theme of the new Junior Cycle is student wellbeing. 300 hours of tuition are currently devoted to the promotion of student wellbeing during PE, SPHE, CSPE and Guidance. In 2022/2023 400 hours of tuition will be devoted to wellbeing.

Junior Cycle Assessment involves a final exam worth 90%, and an assessment task completed in school worth 10%. The Assessment Task is completed in class under the supervision of the subject teacher and is sent to the SEC for marking. The knowledge, skills and understanding developed by students during the completion of the second Classroom-Based Assessment is demonstrated during the completion of the Assessment Task.

What is a Classroom Based Assessment (CBA)?

The new Junior Cycle spreads assessment throughout the three years of Junior Cycle giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their learning away from the exam hall. The CBAs will take place in second year and third year.

Each CBA is different, but they involve project work, presentations and experiments. They are a form of continuous assessment and the results of CBAs will be recognised on each student’s official Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA).

The CBAs are reported on using the following descriptors;

• Exceptional
• Above Expectations
• In line with expectations
• Yet to meet expectations

If a CBA is not completed/submitted by a student in a particular subject, this will be recorded as ‘NOT REPORTED’ on their official Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA). This means that the student did not complete the required CBA for Junior Cycle Assessment.

What is a Subject Learning & Assessment Review (SLAR)?

Following the completion of a CBA in each subject a “Subject Learning & Assessment Review” (SLAR) meeting is organised. During this meeting teachers compare their assessment of students’ work and ensure a common approach across the school that aligns to a national standard.

What is an Assessment Tasks (AT)?

In third year after completing the CBA2 each student will complete a short classroom assessment called the Assessment Task. This is worth 10% of the final grade in that subject. It is marked by the State Examination Commission and takes place within the normal school timetable.

New Junior Cycle Grading System

What is the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement will report?

Junior cycle students will receive a Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA).

The JCPA which will reflect wide range of achievements over the three years of junior cycle and will report on the following:

1. SEC examinations of subjects (examined in June) and the Assessment Tasks.
2. Classroom Based Assessments
3. Other Areas of Learning (OAL’S)

Students are invited to submit 3 to 5 ‘Other Areas of Learning’ that are relevant to their own personal learning experience at Killorglin Community College. These learning experiences are prepared by the students themselves and appear on the JCPA in their own words.

Students should;

(a) Identify their own particular learning experience e.g. Green School

(b) Link it to the statements of learning as set out in the Junior Cycle Specifications

(c) Link it to the key skills as set out in the Junior Cycle Specifications

(d) Use the ‘past tense’ in their description.

Students may draw upon their involvement in any of the following school activities:

• Gaelic Football
• Basketball
• Athletics
• Traditional Music Group
• Jazz/Rock Music Group
• BTYSTE
• SciFest
• Student Council
• Green School
• Wellbeing Committee
• Sustainability Committee
• IT Competitions
• Young Entrepreneur
• Art Competitions
• Poetry Aloud Competitions
• Chess Club
• Book Club
• Games Club
• School Awards – Diligence, Academic Achievement, Attendance

School Awards – Diligence, Academic Achievement, Attendance