Page 14 - St Leos - Prospectus September 2020
P. 14

Curriculum


                                            Junior Cycle – 3 Years



       “The school adopts                   St. Leo’s College offers a broad range of   The most significant change in the new   demonstrate their learning in areas that
                                            subject choice for Junior Cycle. Literacy   Junior Cycle is in the area of Assessment.   are difficult to capture in a timed pen
       a positive approach                  and Numeracy are integrated into      A dual approach to assessment,              and paper exam. For example, the first
       where possible and                   the teaching of all subject areas. Last   involving Classroom Based Assessment    CBA in English, which happens during

       rewards students                     year saw the introduction of a formal   across the three years and a final        Second Year, is an oral communication
                                            Wellbeing programme in Junior Cycle,   externally assessed, state-certified       task. It offers students the opportunity
       and celebrates                       in the same way as traditional subjects   examination can enable the appropriate   to research an area of their choice and

       achievements                         such as English and Maths. Wellbeing   balance between preparing students for     communicate their findings through a
                                            brings together three familiar areas of   examinations and facilitating creative   range of communication formats.
       frequently.”                         learning - physical education (PE), Social,   thinking, engaged learning and better
       Whole School Evalualtion - March 2013  Personal and Health Education (SPHE),   outcomes for students. This approach    The Assessment Task is a written
                                            and Civic, Social and Political Education   will recognise and value the different   assessment that requires the students
                                            (CPSE), and the fourth pillar is guidance /  types of learning that take place in   to reflect on the skills, knowledge and
                                            counselling.                          schools and will allow for a more           understanding that they developed
                                                                                  rounded assessment of the educational       throughout their experience of the
                                            The aim is not merely to repackage this   achievements of each young person.      second Classroom Based Assessment.
                                            quartet under a fashionable name, but                                             The assessment task will be completed
                                            for wellbeing to be greater than the   Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs)         during class time under the supervision
                                            sum of its parts, through a whole-school   will be completed by students in each   of a teacher and will take place over
                                            approach to supporting the wellbeing   subject and short course. CBAs aim         two lesson periods.
                                            and welfare of all.                   to create opportunities for students to
                                                                                                                              At the end of Third Year, students will
                                                                                                                              continue to undertake an examination
                                             MANDATORY                                           OPTIONAL                     in each subject (of no longer than two
                                             SUBJECTS                                            SUBJECTS                     hours duration), externally set and

                                                                                                                              corrected by the State Examinations
                                             Irish          Civic, Social & Political Education (CSPE)  Applied Technology
                                                                                                                              Commission.
                                             English        Science                              Business Studies
                                             Mathematics    Physical Education                   French
                                             History        Religious Education                  German
                                             Geography      Modern Foreign Language (French/German)  Home Economics
                                                                                                 Music
                                                                                                 Visual Art

                                             * St. Leo’s College offers students the option of studying two Modern Foreign Languages in Junior Cycle.  Provision
                                              of this facility is dependent on the number of students who wish to avail of this option.



                                            “Encouraging creativity and embracing diversity in
                                            a positive learning environment.”

                                            Whole School Evalualtion - March 2013








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