Junior cycle (lower secondary education) lies within the compulsory period of education and is usually taken by students between the ages of 12 and 15. Most students who begin junior cycle have spent eight years in primary school and the curriculum at junior cycle builds on the learning of the primary curriculum. An important aim of the junior cycle curriculum is to provide students with a broad and balanced programme of study across a wide range of curriculum areas in order to prepare them for transition to senior cycle education.
Junior Cycle Review
The NCCA undertakes review of junior cycle on a continuous basis. Currently there are several parts to this review, including assessment for learning, research into students' experiences in post-primary school, and curriculum overload/overlap.
Related links
Junior Certificate subjects
Junior cycle
Junior cycle review
Junior cycle subject fact sheets