Junior Cycle

The Junior Certificate Timetable 2025 is available here

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May 2025

Dear Parent/Guardian and Student,

As the exams draw swiftly closer, we draw your attention to TIMETABLE link above and to the RULES FOR CANDIDATES (abbreviated) which you should be familiar with in advance of the State examinations beginning Wednesday June 4^th 2025.   

Students are requested to note the following:

1. It is your responsibility to ensure that you present for exams on the correct day and at the correct time.
2. PCH Code of Behaviour sets out the expected standard of behaviour for the duration of the exams.
3. The School Uniform must be worn for the duration of the exams. Please avoid any unsettling of your concentration by causing an issue in advance of the exam.
4. The School Transport scheme is available for the duration of the exams. However, on those days when a student does not have an afternoon exam, students are requested to get a lift home where you can get more study done.

 

Conduct of Candidates during Examinations

 

• • • Candidates are required to be in attendance at the examination hall at least half an hour before the examination commences in their first subject.
    • On subsequent days they are required to be in attendance at least fifteen minutes before the hour stated in the timetable.

 

• • • No candidate will be admitted to the examination in any paper after thirty minutes of the time for that paper have elapsed.

 

• • • No candidate can leave the examination hall until thirty minutes have passed from the time at which the examination began.

 

• • • A candidate may not be permitted to leave the hall and return during the examination period unless the Superintendent is satisfied that the Candidate’s need to leave the hall is genuine (e.g. because of illness, urgent need to visit the toilet, etc.).

 

• • • The Candidate must hand the answer book and question paper to the Superintendent on leaving the hall; the Superintendent should record on the cover of the answer book the time of departure from and return to the hall and the reason for the absence; the time lost by the candidate may not be compensated for at the end of the examination period.

 

• • • A Candidate must occupy during the entire examination period the place first assigned to him/her by the Superintendent.

 

• • • A Candidate should raise his/her hand if he/she wishes to attract the attention of the Superintendent during the examination.

 

• • • It is the Candidate’s responsibility to ensure that he/she brings to the attention of the Superintendent if he/she has not been provided with the level of the examination paper at each examination which he/she is due to take.

 

• • • No Candidate shall write his name on any answer book or other paper supplied.
    • The Candidate’s number should be entered on every envelope, answer book, map, drawing, or sheet of square paper used.

 

• • • Candidates should not commence writing until instructed to do so by the Superintendent.

 

• • • Candidates will be supplied with Mathematics Tables by the Superintendent. Candidates may not bring their own Mathematical Tables into the examination hall.

 

• • • A Candidate may not bring into the examination hall any book, or paper, or memorandum, notes or mobile phone, etc, except a calculator as permitted under the regulations. Mobile phones must remain outside the examination hall or ideally at home.

 

• • • To ensure the smooth running of the examinations and to avoid disruption to other candidates a candidate who leaves the examination centre early he/she will be supervised in the school library until the examination ends.  No student will be allowed off the premises if finished his/her exam early. 

A Candidate shall NOT while in the examination hall –

• Use or attempt to use any book, or memorandum, or notes
• Aid, or attempt to aid, another Candidate
• Obtain, or attempt to obtain, aid from another Candidate or Superintendent
• Communicate, or attempt to communicate, in any way, with another Candidate
  within the centre or by electronic means with a person outside the centre

A Candidate who has finished his/her work at least ten minutes before the time appointed for the conclusion of the examination may be permitted to leave the hall. 

It can be disconcerting for students when their peers leave the examination hall early.  The school policy in this regard will be that Junior Certificate students who have finished their exam must remain on the school premises until that exam is over.  A supervised study room will be provided for students on these occasions.  

A Candidate may be expelled from the examination hall if his/her behaviour is such to jeopardise the successful conduct of the examination.           

We would encourage you to eat well; get to bed early and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.  On behalf of the whole school community we wish you the very best for the exams and an enjoyable summer.

Le gach dea-ghuí,

Ms. Fiona Gallagher                                                       

Príomhoíde                                                                      

 

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New Junior Cycle Framework: In recent years, the Junior Cycle has undergone significant reforms. The new framework focuses on key skills and offers a more flexible curriculum. It emphasizes student well-being, active learning, and the development of critical thinking skills. There are new subject specifications and assessment methods, including short courses and classroom-based assessments.

Key Skills: The new Junior Cycle framework promotes eight key skills: Managing Myself, Staying Well, Communicating, Being Creative, Working with Others, Managing Information and Thinking, Being Literate, and Being Numerate.

The following subjects are available to students at Junior Cycle: