Junior Cycle Education

A new curriculum

Opportunities and Challenges

Aims of the module

• Reflect on the “why” of the new

proposals

• Examine the required curriculum

changes

• Plan a new curriculum with particular

emphasis on “Short Courses”

School MattersResearch tells us that students who

risk disaffection at school respond best

to a curriculum that is holistic, that

actively engages them, that is

responsive to their needs, interests and

learning styles, that combines

integrated academic, social skills, and

vocational education with career

development and work-based learning.

Improving the Curriculum and Learning

Experience

All learners should also have regular opportunity to engage with those learning approaches, including

cooperative learning differentiated learning

active learning problem-solving activity

which we know not only contribute to more effective learning but increase learners’ participation and enjoyment of the learning process

L&N Strategy p.43

Present Junior Cycle

Year Learning Challenge

First year Progress

Second year Purpose

Third year Product

The New Junior Cycle

• Innovation teachers and school

leaders as agents of

change

• Identity continuation from

primary school and

preparation for senior

cycle

Values

• Equality and inclusion

• Justice and fairness

• Freedom and democracy

• Respect for human dignity

• Identity

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.”

Leaders of Learning

How, as a Leader of

Learning, can I influence

changes to the curriculum

and timetable?

Group Discussion 1

Challenges

Number of periods in the week

Teacher allocation and class size

Existing arrangements

A. Ps. On 18 hours

Room availability

Teacher with a single subject

Lack of teachers for a specific subject

Issues for Schools Reduced allocation - guidance?

Changing to a 28 hour week

Prior use of resource hours

Class viability – what size? Eg 26 students opt H.Ecs.

PLC late uptake

Lack of qualified SEN teachers

Can school afford to drop a minority subject

Smaller intake in first year

More time for maths, 140 points!

SPHE at senior cycle

PE for all yeargroups

Other ???

Curriculum ……Principles

Breadth covering a range of experiences

Challenge engage and motivate

Coherent draws different strands together

Depth develop learner’s full capacity

Personalisation allows for aptitudes and talents

Progression builds on previous learning

Relevance present and future

NCCA…..Key Principles

• Quality

• Creativity and innovation

• Choice and flexibility

• Continuity

• Engagement, relevance and enjoyment

• Lifelong learning

Group Discussion 2

More of the same

or

improved teaching

and learning etc.

Framework Premise

• All schools moving at the same time

• All schools moving in the same direction

• All schools arriving at the same end point

Reduced Content

• Time for deeper understanding

• Active learning and research

• Varied teaching methodologies

• Interdisciplinary themed learning

• Emphasise literacy and numeracy

• Practical relevant focus

• Real linkage with Primary school

Question

What is the most useful

thing you ever learned ?

Student Answers

• How to communicate

• How to listen

• How to stand up for myself

• How to cope in different situations

• How to mix with people

• How to cook

The 1680 minute week

42 periods v 45 periods

42 x 40 minutes

or

15 x 38mins. + 30 x 37mins.

Core Subjects ?

• Irish

• English

• Mathematics

• Science

• Language

• History and/or Geography

Additional Core Subjects ?

• Physical Education

• Religious Education

• ICT

• Guidance

• C.S.P.E.

• S.P.H.E.

Core Subjects

Time Allocation

• Irish, English, Mathematics a minimum of

240 hours over 3 years,(say 96 weeks)

240 / 96 = 2.5 hours = 150 minutes

5 x 40 mins. = 200 minutes (320 hrs.)

5 x 37 mins. = 185 minutes (299 hrs.)

Other Subjects

Time Allocation

• 200 hour subjects

4 x 40 mins. = 160 mins.(256 hours)

4 x 37 mins. = 148 mins. (238 hours)

Short Courses……why?

• Open up a new area of learning

• Deepen students learning in areas

associated with existing subjects

• Develop the skills and capacities of

students

• Frame learning in specific activities, ie

Young Scientist

Short Courses…examples

• Information and Communication Tech.

• Physical and Health Education

• Coastal Studies

• The Arts

• D. I. Y.

• Entrepreneurial Studies

Short Courses

Time Allocation

100 hours

Over 3 years….....2 weekly periods

Over 2 years……..3 weekly periods

First Year

A general introduction to

second level education ?

Group Discussion 3

Option Subjects

• Normal subjects offered by the school

• New short courses, replacing or derived

from an existing option subject

• Retain the same number of option lines

• 2 short courses equal 1 subject

• If 2 option lines then students could

choose 0 or 2 or 4 short courses

Sample Curriculum (1) ?

Irish 5

English 5

Mathematics 5

Language 4

Science 4

History/Geography 5 ?

Total 28

Sample Curriculum(2)

R.E.

P.E.

S.P.H.E.

C.S.P.E.

I.C.T.

Rotation/Option1

Rotation/Option 2

Rotation in 1st year allows students to sample all option subjects

• DO 3 OPTION SUBJECTS IN 1ST

YEAR 1

• PICK 2 OPTION SUBJECTS OUT OF THOSE 3 IN 2ND AND 3RD YEAR

2

• CHOOSE BETWEEN HIST OR GEOG AT END 1ST YR.

3

TIMETABLE SAMPLE 1

SAMPLE 1No. of

periods per week

No. of periods per

week

No. of periods per

week

Total periods over 3 years

CORE SUBJECTS Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3

English 5 5 5 15

Irish 5 5 5 15

Maths 5 5 5 15

Religion 3 3 3 9

French / German 4 4 4 12

Science 4 4 4 12

History 3 3 3 9

Geog 3 3

SPHE/ CSPE 2 2 3 7

P.E. 2 2 2 6

0

TOTAL CORE 36 33 34

OPT1 2 4 4 10

OPT2 2 4 4 10

Opt3 2

TUTORIAL ??? 1

TOTAL PERIODS 42 42 42

OPT1, OPT2 & OPT3 IN FIRST YEAR BUT PICK 2 OUT OF

THESE THREE AT THE END OF 1ST YEAR

• DO 4 OPTION SUBJECTS IN 1ST

YEAR 1

• PICK 2 OUT OF THESE 4 OPTION SUBJECTS IN 2ND

AND 3RD YEAR

2

• CHOOSE BETWEEN HIST OR GEOG AT END 1ST YR.

3

TIMETABLE SAMPLE 2

SAMPLE 2No. of

periods per

week

No. of periods per

week

No. of periods per

week

Total periods over 3 years

CORE SUBJECTS Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3

English 5 5 5 15

Irish 4 4 5 13

Maths 5 5 5 15

Religion 2 2 2 6

French / German 4 4 4 12

Science 4 4 4 12

History 2 4 4 10

Geog 2 2

ICT 2 2 1 5

P.E. 2 2 2 6

SPHE/ CSPE 2 2 2 6

TOTAL CORE 34 34 34

Opt1 2 4 4 10

OPT2 2 4 4 10

Opt3 2

Opt4 2

TOTAL PERIODS 42 42 42

References• School Matters : The Report of the Task Force on Student Behaviour

2006 Department of Education and Science

• Moving Up : The Experiences of First-Year Students in Post-Primary

Education 2004

Smyth, Emer / McCoy, Selina / Darmody, Merike

Liffey Press in association with the ESRI

• Pathways through the Junior Cycle : The Experience of Second

Year Students 2006

Smyth, Emer / Dunne, Allison / McCoy, Selina

/ Darmody Merike The Liffey Press in

association with the ESRI

– Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle : NCCA 2012

– Slides 33 to 36 : Ms. Rita McCabe