Junior Certificate

Ennistymon Vocational School is committed to providing a student-centred education experience. The student will be educated in an inclusive environment where they will the most up to date teaching and learning strategies will be facilitated. The focus throughout will be on developing student’s key skills and ensuring their continued wellbeing.

All Junior Cycle subjects support literacy and numeracy and support their development in all students.

Subjects

• Gaeilge
• Science
• Woodwork
• History
• English
• History
• Graphics
• Visual Arts
• French
• Business Studies
• Wellbeing
• (CSPE, SPHE & PE)
• Maths
• Metalwork

All 1st year students study a taster of all of the above subjects for the year. At the end of 1st year they then choose their preferred option subjects.

Classroom-Based Assessments (CBA)

Junior Cycle Students Complete Classroom Based Assessments (CBA) in 2nd and 3rd year.

CBA 1 is completed in 2nd year and CBA 2 will be completed in 3rd year. These assessments are completed entirely in school during each subject’s class time. These assessments take place during a specific time period (usually a few weeks) set by the Department of Education. Teachers will guide every student through the CBA process.

Your students Classroom Based Assessments will appear on their Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA).

A student will receive one of the following descriptors for each CBA completed in a subject:

• Exceptional
• Above Expectations
• In line with Expectations
• Yet to Meet Expectations

At the end of 3rd year, students will sit their final Junior Cycle Examinations in June, which will make up 90% of their grade.

What is a JCPA?

JCPA stands for Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement. This is written certification that students will receive when they have completed the Junior Cycle. The JCPA, in conjunction with the SEC will give students a very clear idea of how the student progressed over the three years of Junior Cycle.

Junior Cycle Grading

Junior Cycle students will usually sit their state exam set by the SEC at the end of 3rd year (June). These state examinations are graded differently. When a student receives a particular percentage in a subject, they will receive a descriptor that correlates to that grade.