1. Information for Parents
Junior Cycle Reform
Information for Parents

2. Agenda!
The Vision Structure of the Junior Cycle What subjects will my son/ daughter be studying? Assessment & Reporting Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement Question & Answers

3. 29/03/2017
The 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.”

4. Auto Animated Version
2011
Literacy and numeracy for learning and life
Connecting primary and secondary
A purposeful second year
Ongoing assessment to support learning
Why the need to change?

5. Structure of the Junior Cycle
Assessment and Reporting C U R I L M
Subjects
Level 2 Learning Programmes
Wellbeing
Short Courses
Other Learning
Experiences
8 Key Skills
24 Statements of Learning
8 Principles

6. Learning
to Learn
Wellbeing
Choice
and
Flexibility
These principles will help structure our subject choices, the introduction of short courses, the development of the Wellbeing programme
The Principles
of Junior Cycle
Education
Inclusive
Education
Quality
Continuity
and
Development
Creativity
and
Innovation
Engagement
and
Participation

7. The Subject Choices

8. Key Skills will offer…. Life long skills to face everyday
situations challenges
More engaging
learning experience
Provide a solid
foundation for further
study
An opportunity to
demonstrate a
variety of skills
rather than just paper
and pen!

9. What is the purpose of assessment in Junior Cycle?

10. Assessment in the Junior Cycle
Formative assessment, complemented by summative assessment, will be a key feature of the new Junior Cycle Framework for Junior
Level 2 Learning Programmes (L2LPs)
Classroom Based Assessments including short courses
Wellbeing
State certified examinations
Other areas of learning
(inclusive of the Assessment Task)

11. Changes in Assessment Assessment will focus on effective feedback
Greater variety of assessment
Teachers talking to teachers about assessment
Setting & achieving personal goals in their own work
Identifying what to do next to improve
Redrafting & correcting their own work with guidance

12. How will these changes be experienced?

13. Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs)
1 CBA in Short Course
2 CBA in Full Course- 2nd sent to SEC for HE/Art/Technology/Music
1 AT- not in practical subjects!!
Classroom-Based
Assessments
(CBAs)
provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their learning and understanding in a way that formal pen and paper examinations cannot
focus on the processes involved in the learning and not just the end product
Students will be given developmental feedback
that will help them move their learning forward
All students can achieve success what ever that may look like for each student

14. Classroom-Based Assessments
27/03/2017
The Grading System
State Examinations
Distinction
Higher Merit 75-95%
Merit %
Achieved %
Yet to be %
achieved
Not Graded <20%
Classroom-Based Assessments
Exceptional
Above expectations
In line with expectations
Yet to meet expectations

15. English
Science
Business
Irish
French & German
Maths
Art
Home Ec
Music
Geography
History
Technology

16. JUNIOR CYCLE PROFILE OF ACHIEVEMENT: THE END RESULT
CBA RESULTS
SEC EXAM RESULTS
ACHIEVEMENT IN WELLBEING
ACHIEVEMENT IN OTHER AREAS OF LEARNING