Junior Cycle Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a 100 hour short course. The course is designed to support schools in providing the required 100 hours of learning in SPHE which is a minimum requirement for all junior cycle short courses. Learning in SPHE aims to help students to build self-awareness and positive self-worth develop the knowledge, understanding, skills, dispositions and values that will support them to lead fulfilling and healthy lives feel empowered to create, nurture and maintain respectful and loving relationships with self and others enhance their capacity to contribute positively to society The short course was first published in 2016 and was updated in 2023. Note: Students starting first year in September 2023 will be studying the 2023 specification. View the 2016 Specification PDF View 2023 Specification PDF
