Developments at Junior Cycle
June 22nd 2011
Junior Cycle Development…so far
• Innovation and Identity discussion paper
• Consultation findings on www.ncca.ie
• Strong evidence base for change
• Commitment to junior cycle reform in programme
for government and by the Minister
• NCCA developing a new Framework for Junior Cycle
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Rationale for junior cycle development
Minister’s request and input to Council
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Create the space for deeper learning and innovation in
schools
The forms of assessment for junior cycle and the scaling
back of the Junior Certificate
The role of key skills in junior cycle
Continuity with primary education
ESRI research on the experience of junior cycle
Build on previous review and look to the future
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How the World’s Most Improved School
Systems Keep Getting Better
‘…improving systems generally spend more of their activity on
improving how instruction is delivered than on changing the
content of what is delivered.’
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How the World’s Most Improved School Systems Keep Getting
Better
Rather, these systems achieve improvement by the center increasing
the responsibilities and flexibilities of schools and teachers to shape
instructional practice – one-third of the systems in the ‘good to great’
journey and just less than two-thirds of the systems in the ‘great to
excellent’ journey decentralize pedagogical rights to the middle layer
(e.g. districts) or schools.
McKinsey and Company
November 2010
http://www.mckinsey.com/
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A new Framework for Junior Cycle
• A new way for students to encounter junior cycle
• All aspects at the service of learning and teaching
• Combination of strong framework for all with local
flexibility
• Junior Cycle’s own identity - the engaged learner
and future citizen
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A new Framework for Junior Cycle?
The focus is on...
•Students making a greater connection with learning
•Improving the quality of learning that takes place
•Ensuring literacy, numeracy and key skills are embedded in the
learning
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A new Framework for Junior Cycle?
Learning
•What a student will learn described in 35 statements of
essential learning across eight areas of learning
•The skills of literacy and numeracy and other key skills
embedded in areas of learning and the curriculum
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Areas of learning
Scientific
Approach
Wellbeing
Arts
Technology
Moral and
Religious
Education
Social Studies
Mathematical
Thinking
Language
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Key Skills
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A new Framework for Junior Cycle?
Curriculum
• Subjects and short courses continue to play an important role
• Schools enabled to develop some courses of their own
• Curriculum specifications that are smaller and less detailed
than at present
Classical Studies
English
French
German
Irish
Italian
Spanish
CSPE
Geography
History
Jewish Studies
Religious
Education
SUBJECTS
Mathematics
Science
Technical Graphics
Technology
Materials
Technology (Wood)
Metalwork
Business Studies
Art Craft Design
Home Economics
Physical Education
SPHE
Music
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Potential Short Courses
• Cultural studies
• Book club
• Sustainable living and resource • Making Choices
management
• Personal Finance
• Debating
• School Musical
• Write-a-book
• Coaching in the community
• Development Education
• Being innovative-product
• School musical
• Leadership
design
• Creating an e portfolio
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A new Framework for Junior Cycle?
Assessment
• Assessment playing a major part in everyday learning over the
three years of junior cycle
• Students being more responsible for gathering and presenting
evidence of their learning
• Teachers judging, giving feedback, and reporting on that
evidence
A new Framework for Junior Cycle?
Qualifications
• Two new qualifications
• Smaller qualifications with fewer curriculum components,
giving schools more space and time to spend on their junior
cycle programme, on literacy, numeracy and key skills
Leading and supporting junior cycle change
• All schools heading in the same direction, to the
same destination
• All schools move at the same time…but not
necessarily at the same pace
• Clear plan and appropriate timeframe
• Introducing changes on a phased basis
• Developmental approach taken to working with
teachers and schools
• Identify the supports and resources needed
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Leading and supporting change
Preparation / engagement and thinking
Year 2&3
Preparation / planning
Year 4
New junior cycle starts
Year 5
Second Year of new junior cycle
Year 6
Third Year of new junior cycle
New qualifications awarded
Changing assessment
arrangements/practices
Year 1
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What really matters?
An entitlement curriculum which while not giving an inch on
standards in literacy and numeracy
is broad, balanced and rich;
which engages, excites and empowers;
which attends to children’s present as well as their future needs;
which addresses the condition of society and the wider world;
and is taught to the highest possible standard.
Robin Alexander, Cambridge Primary Review
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