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Meet Ms. Fernandez and some of her Junior Cert Spanish students:

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Meet Ms. Fernandez and some of her Junior Cert Spanish students:

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At Sutton Park students will be given the opportunity to ‘taste’ option subjects before making their final selection for the Junior Cycle Programme. This process empowers students to make informed subject choices in accordance with their interests, aptitudes and ability levels.

Many factors have to be taken into account when deciding what subjects to take. These factors include:

The student’s interest in or liking for a subject.

His/her aptitude towards a subject.

The value of a subject for his/her own personal development.

Whether or not it is necessary to keep options open at senior cycle.

The relevance of a subject for a particular 3rd level course.

The following subjects are compulsory in Sutton Park School and are not chosen by students: English, Irish (unless exempt), Maths, Geography, History, Science, Modern Foreign Language and Wellbeing, which includes CSPE, SPHE and PE.

Having these will allow students to opt for subjects at Senior Cycle that will prepare them for entry into many 3rd level courses. For example, an additional modern language is required for entry to some University courses. Entry to other courses have specific requirements, like a high grade in mathematics, and having one, or two, science subjects is a requirement for entry to others.

Optional Subjects

This padlet gives details about the optional subjects that we offer and it is designed to help students decide which selection would be best for them. Option subjects include Graphics,  Business Studies, Home Economics, Art & Music. Students select two option subjects to carry through their Junior Cycle programme.

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Meet Ms. Walsh and some of her Junior Cert business students:

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Meet Ms. Walsh and some of her Junior Cert business students:

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Junior Cycle Business Studies Program Outline

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Junior Cycle Business Studies Program Outline

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Our CBA was based on 'Enterprise in Action' and students were tasked to develop an product for Jacob's biscuit makers. ​

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Meet Ms. Campbell and some of her Junior Cert German students:

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Meet Ms. Campbell and some of her Junior Cert German students:

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Meet Ms. Kingston and some of her Junior Cert French students

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Meet Ms. Kingston and some of her Junior Cert French students

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Junior Cycle Home Economics Program Outline

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Junior Cycle Home Economics Program Outline

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Meet Ms. Doherty and some of her Junior Cert home economics students:

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Meet Ms. Doherty and some of her Junior Cert home economics students:

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Meet Mr. Timmons and some of his Junior Cert graphics students:

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Meet Mr. Timmons and some of his Junior Cert graphics students:

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Exploration of the principle planes of reference that link 2D drawings and 3D shapes. This hands on task links all the key strands of the specification together. 2D Graphics, 3D Graphics and Applied Graphics. Board drawing skills, freehand drawing skills and CAD skills can all be linked here to great effect.

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Exploration of Ergonomics in household objects. Graphically communicated using sketching. This particular example is CBA1 completed during 2nd year.

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Ergonomics explored through Sketching

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Students engage with CAD from the beginning of 1st year. Immersing the students in CAD at an early stage helps them to develop their spatial visualisation skills and appreciation of 2D & 3D Geometry.

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Meet Ms. O'Donovan and some of her Junior Cert music students:

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Meet Ms. O'Donovan and some of her Junior Cert music students:

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The grade descriptors for CBAs should not be confused with the grades awarded by the State Examination Commission (SEC) for the Junior Cycle exam that your child will undertake in June of 3rd year.  The grading rubric used by the SEC is outlined below & replaces the traditional A, B, C etc grades of the past.

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The Junior Cycle spreads assessment across 2nd and 3rd Year of Junior Cycle, giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their learning away from the exam hall. CBAs take place within normal class time and over a defined period, in many cases spanning just three weeks. Each assessment will be drawn from a variety of types of assessment, which might include project tasks, oral language tasks, investigations, practical or designing and making tasks, field studies and artistic performance.

After the second of the Classroom-Based Assessments, students will complete a written Assessment Task on what they have learned and the skills and competences that they have developed in that assessment. The Assessment Task, along with the final examination at the end of third year, will be marked by the State Examinations Commission (SEC). The dual approach to assessment will recognise & value the different types of learning that take place in schools, and will allow for a more rounded assessment of the education of each young person.

CBAs will be reported on in the JCPA using the following descriptors:

Exceptional

Above Expectations

In Line with Expectations

Yet to Meet Expectations

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              Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement  

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              Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement  

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At the end of their Junior Cycle, students are awarded a Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) by the school. This award has replaced the previous state-awarded Junior Certificate from 2017 onwards. The JCPA award presents:

The results obtained in the state examinations in June of 3rd year.

The descriptor grades obtained in the students’ Classroom-Based Assessments.

The results of classroom Assessments in Short Courses where taken.

The ‘Other Areas of Learning’ which the students have undertaken outside the academic curriculum e.g. sports, drama, choir, Student Council etc.

Acknowledgement of learning in Wellbeing

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The Junior Cycle programme places the student at the centre of the learning process. It is made up of newly developed subjects & short courses, a focus on literacy, numeracy and key skills, and new approaches of assessment and reporting. The Junior Cycle will also encompass a range of other learning experiences such as social, cultural, sporting, pastoral, scientific, entrepreneurial and other activities. Students will also engage in an area of learning entitled Wellbeing.