The New Junior Cycle
In 2014 the new Junior Cycle was introduced to Irish schools. This gives schools greater flexibility to design programmes that are suited to the needs of their junior cycle students and to the particular context of the school.
Each school’s programme:
- will be guided by the twenty-four statements of learning, eight principles and eight key skills that are at the core of the new Junior Cycle
- will encompass learning in subjects or a combination of subjects and short courses
- will include an area of learning entitled Wellbeing
- will provide a range of other learning experiences
- may include priority learning units (PLUs) that will help to provide a junior cycle programme that is appropriate to the needs of particular students with significant special educational needs.
The programme aims to promote a focus on active and collaborative learning. In particular, learners will be enabled to use and analyse information in new and creative ways, to investigate issues, to explore, to think for themselves, to be creative in solving problems and to apply their learning to new challenges and situations. Given the changing nature of knowledge, the ease with which students have access to information, and the pace of change in the workplace and the world generally, these competences and skills are critical to the preparation of young people for learning and living.
There are eight key skills required for successful learning by students across the curriculum and for learning beyond school. Key skills help learners develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to face the many challenges in today’s world. They also support students in learning how to learn and to take responsibility for their own learning. Throughout the Junior Cycle, students will acquire and enhance their proficiency in these eight key
skills. They will be brought to life through the learning experiences encountered by students and will be evident in the assessment approaches used in the classroom and in examinations. They are closely linked to the skills required at senior cycle and those already developed for early childhood and primary education.
