Junior Cycle

Curriculum Overview

Junior Cycle at Davitt College

The Junior Cycle places the student at the centre of the learning process. We focus on a broad education that balances academic achievement with wellbeing, life skills, and readiness for the senior cycle.

Core Curriculum

The 8 Key Skills of Junior Cycle

These core skills are woven into every subject and short course. They are designed to help students become active, resilient, and independent learners, preparing them for the challenges of the Senior Cycle and beyond.

Communicating

Listening, expressing ideas, and performing.

Working with Others

Co-operating, learning with others, and respecting difference.

Managing Information

Gathering, recording, and thinking creatively.

Managing Myself

Knowing myself, making considered decisions, and setting goals.

Staying Well

Listening, expressing ideas, and performing.

Being Creative

Imagining, exploring options, and implementing ideas.

Being Numerate

Developing a positive attitude towards maths and problem-solving.

Being Literate

Expressing ideas clearly and developing a love of reading.

Academic Pathways

Our Junior Cycle Curriculum

01

Core Subjects

Essential disciplines forming the structural backbone of the Junior Cycle, providing every student with an elite academic foundation.

02

Optional Subjects

Tailor individual educational journeys through a diverse range of creative, technical, and commercial electives.

03

Wellbeing Programme

Supporting holistic personal growth, mental health resilience, and active lifestyles through structured physical and social frameworks.

Evaluation Framework

Junior Cycle Assessment

Student writing an assessment exam at Davitt College

The Junior Cycle blends traditional exams with continuous, project-based learning to give a comprehensive picture of student achievement, culminating in the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA).

Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs)

Completed during normal class time in 2nd and 3rd year, CBAs allow students to demonstrate their learning through projects, presentations, and practical work.

Assessment Task (AT)

A written reflection based on the second CBA, completed during 3rd year. It is sent to the State Examinations Commission for grading.

Final Examinations

Traditional state exams held at the end of 3rd year. These account for the majority of the final grade in most subjects.

Inclusive Education

Specialised Programmes & Courses

Short Courses

Designed to broaden the learning experience, these courses offer focused modules in areas like Digital Media, Coding, or SPHE, building vital modern skills over 100 hours of learning.

Level 2 Learning Programmes

Tailored programmes built around Priority Learning Units (PLUs). They focus on developing essential personal, social, and practical skills for students with specific educational needs.

Junior Certificate School Programme

A targeted intervention designed to ensure every student experiences success and remains engaged in their education through a supportive, profiling-based approach to the curriculum.

Subject Information

Exploring Your Junior Cycle Subjects?

Find out more about the subjects available at Junior Cycle with official information leaflets from the Department of Education.

These helpful guides give students and parents an overview of individual Junior Cycle subjects and what students can expect from their learning.

View Subject Information Leaflets → Department of Education
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