News/Events
Latest News
Post Date: 31 May 2023
This circular supersedes Information Note 11/2022 and Circular 59/2021. It sets out the arrangements now governing the implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015, with particular reference to the school year 2023/2024.
Post Date: 18 May 2023
The specification for the NCCA short course in Social, Personal & Health Education (SPHE) 2023 has been published. From September 2023 onwards first years entering post-primary school will follow this specification.
Visit the NCCA's website to access the 2023 SPHE Specification and 2023 SPHE Toolkit.
Post Date: 24 March 2023
The suite of SLAR resources from our recent SLAR Evening Workshops are available on the JCIS Resources section of the JCT website. You will find resources for both SLAR facilitators and participants.
Thank you to all who attended these workshops.
Post Date: 23 February 2023
JCT in collaboration with Monaghan Education Centre will host a final week of SLAR Evening Workshops for the 2022/23 school year from March 13th-15th. Further supports and resources for both SLAR Facilitators and Participants will be provided at each workshop. You can register at the links below.
The SLAR Process: Effective Facilitation (Wednesday March 15th: 16.30-18.00)
An online workshop for all SLAR facilitators that will enable facilitators to explore the purpose and value of the SLAR process, develop an understanding of the role of the facilitator in the SLAR Process, and discuss key considerations for the SLAR facilitator before, during and after the SLAR meeting. Resources and further supports available!
An Phróiseas AFMÁ: Éascú Éifeachtach (Monday March 13th: 16.30-18.00)
Ceardlann ar líne a chumasóidh éascaitheoirí chun cuspóir agus fiúntas cruinnithe AFMÁ a fhiosrú, tuiscint a fháil ar ról an éascaitheora sa phróiseas AFMÁ agus na tascanna a bhíonn le déanamh ag an éascaitheoir, roimh, le linn agus tar éis an chruinnithe AFMÁ a phlé. Acmhainní agus tacaí eile ar fáil!
The SLAR Process: Effective Participation (Tuesday March 14th: 16.30-18.00)
An online workshop for all SLAR participants. It will enable participants to explore the purpose and value of the SLAR process, develop an understanding of the role of the participant in the SLAR process, discuss key considerations for the SLAR participant, before, during, and after the SLAR meeting, and examine the role of the Features of Quality in learning, teaching and assessment. Resources and further supports available!
An Phróiseas AFMÁ: Rannpháirtíocht Éifeachtach (Tuesday March 14th: 16.30-18.00)
Ceardlann ar líne a chumasóidh rannpháirtithe chun cuspóir agus fiúntas cruinnithe AFMÁ a fhiosrú, tuiscint a fháil ar ról an rannpháirtí sa phróiseas AFMÁ, na tascanna a bhíonn le déanamh ag rannpháirtithe roimh, le linn agus tar éis an chruinnithe AFMÁ a phlé, agus ról na nGnéithe Cáilíochta sa Mheasúnú, sa Teagasc agus san Fhoghlaim a chíoradh. Acmhainní agus tacaí eile ar fáil!
Post Date: 22 February 2023
The webinar hosted by the JCIS team focusing upon the process of planning for the award of the 2022 Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) for students who completed Junior Cycle in June 2022 is now available to view here.
Post Date: 01 February 2023
The JCIS team will be hosting a webinar focusing upon the process of planning for the award of the 2022 Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) for students who completed Junior Cycle in June 2022.
Date: Tuesday, February 7th, 2023
Time: 7:15-8:15pm
Event: Online Webinar for MRH Teachers / Junior Cycle Coordinators
Register by clicking on this link.
Post Date: 31 January 2023
Details for schools on the process of creating the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) for students who completed Junior Cycle in June 2022 are now available by clicking on this link.
Post Date: 06 January 2023
Please find an Information Note TC11/2022 published by the Department of Education by clicking here. It provides updates on the implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle with particular reference to the school year 2022/2023. To be read in conjunction with Circular 0059/2021 which is available by clicking here.
Post Date: 23 November 2022
Consultation on the Background Paper and Brief for the redevelopment of Senior Cycle SPHE is now open and will remain open until Tuesday the 6th of December 2022. You can read the Background Paper and Brief for the redevelopment of Senior Cycle SPHE and provide feedback through an online survey or written submission here.
Post Date: 28 September 2022
SLAR Facilitation and SLAR Participation workshops are running this week, facilitated by JCIS, in collaboration with Monaghan Education Centre. Thank you to all attendees at the SLAR Facilitator workshop who were getting ready for the role of SLAR Facilitator. Spaces are still available in the SLAR Participation workshop on Thursday September 29th which is aimed at all teachers of Junior Cycle subjects. Registration and further details can be found here.
Post Date: 07 September 2022
Revised arrangements for the completion of Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs) for students in third year and second year in 2022/2023
Post Date: 31 August 2022
The JCIS Leading Professional Time resource is a self-directed support for school leaders which also offers collaborative possibilities for teachers in the use of their professional time. It includes a screencast video, an accompanying PDF document and a collaborative template which can be downloaded and edited as required.
Post Date: 01 June 2022
The Department of Education has decided, on an interim basis, to continue to allocate the Management Resource Hours for the school year 2022/23. All Post-primary schools have been sent a letter outlining this arrangement in further detail. Please find a wealth of supports developed by JCT for MRH personnel here.
Post Date: 30 May 2022
Schools will have received a letter regarding the scheduling of a day of whole-school planning and self-evaluation for Junior Cycle implementation 2022/2023. The theme of next year’s JCIS workshop is to review your Junior Cycle implementation and identify areas for consolidation and further development. Further details of this whole staff workshop are found in the JCIS CPD Brochure. The earliest day for bookings will be Monday, 12th September 2022. Please contact your Regional Team in order to book your JCIS day.
Post Date: 30 May 2022
An important message has been sent to all post-primary Principals via EsiNet in relation to the Reporting on Wellbeing Areas of Learning in the Junior Cycle 2022. Please check your in-box for details.
Post Date: 26 May 2022
Issue 8 of our newsletter for teachers who have been allocated their school’s management resource hours is available to download as a PDF by clicking on the following link:
Management Resource Hours Newsletter
Post Date: 26 May 2022
The most recent professional time resource created by the JCIS team offers ideas for teachers' individual and collaborative reflective practice. This Individual-Collaborative Reflective Practice Professional Time resource includes a Padlet and a one-page document with an explanation of each section of the Padlet. These sections are entitled Professional Reading, Professional Dialogue, Professional Learning and Professional Practice and consist of relevant readings, screencasts, PowerPoints, videos, support documents and reflective templates. This resource is located on the JCIS section of the JCT website in the Resources section under the heading Professional Time.
Post Date: 03 March 2022
The Junior Cycle Implementation Support (JCIS) Professional Time Narrative resource outlines the progression of professional time from the Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) to Circular 0059/2021 to ongoing professional individual and collaborative practice for teachers.
The JCIS Suggested Use of Professional Time resource provides links to each subject specific professional time support document which offer some ideas for individual, subject department, and whole-school professional activities, while the JCIS Professional Time - Suggested Supports resource contains a further list of suggestions for how teachers could use their allocated professional time.
The suggestions encompass opportunities for the individual teacher as well as for subject department professional activity, comprising possible actions associated with feedback, reporting, formative assessment, and entries being assembled for the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA).
Self-directed supports for teachers and school leaders around the individual and collaborative use of professional time in schools will also be created by JCIS in the 2021/2022 academic year.
Post Date: 10 February 2022
The Department of Education has published the timetable for the 2022 State Exams for Junior Cycle.
A copy can be accessed by clicking here or clicking on the image below.
Post Date: 03 February 2022
Following a government decision, the Minister for Education Norma Foley TD on 1 February announced that the Junior Cycle examinations will take place this summer, for the first time since 2019. You can read the full arrangements for Junior Cycle here
Post Date: 31 January 2022
Issue 5 of our newsletter for teachers who have been allocated their school’s management resource hours is available to download as a PDF by clicking on the following link:
Management Resource Hours Newsletter Link
Post Date: 24 January 2022
JCT has established a new team, our Junior Cycle Implementation Support (JCIS) team, who will build on the work undertaken by our Whole-school CPD team in previous years through the facilitation of a more tailored CPD experience for schools. This team will operate across seven regions nationally. Again, this year, schools may take one day for Junior Cycle whole-school planning and school-self-evaluation. JCIS will initially engage with schools to help identify where they are at on their Junior Cycle implementation journey. JCIS will then enter a CPD co-design process with schools in advance of their school closure day. It is envisaged that JCIS would not facilitate the entire school closure day. Instead, the closure day may be only part facilitated by JCT. In such instances JCIS will assist schools in planning for the remainder of their day, which could involve, for example, harnessing Junior Cycle expertise built up over recent years among existing staff. A co-facilitation arrangement, whereby JCT and school personnel might facilitate part of the closure day jointly, may also be explored. Schools can book their whole-school planning and school-self-evaluation day input by contacting their relevant JCIS Team Leader. The JCIS team will endeavour to accommodate as many schools as possible in the remainder of the current school year.