New Junior Cycle

Junior Cycle Subjects

The new Junior Cycle Programme sets out a clear vision of how teaching, learning and assessment practices will evolve in the first three years of post-primary education to ensure a learning experience for our young people that is appropriate to the needs of the 21st century.

It is underpinned by 8 main principals:


The new curriculum is based around 8 key skills. These key skills help learners develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to face the many challenges in today’s world. They also support students in learning how to learn and take responsibility for their own learning. The key skills are as follows:

At Columba College we are dedicated to providing a 21st Learning experience for our pupils, to ensure that the key principles and key skills of the new Junior Cycle permeate our whole school to guarantee high quality teaching and learning at all times.


The following is the phasing in period of the new Junior Cycle: