Junior Cycle – 3 Years

The Junior Cycle programme at St. Fergal’s College provides students with a broad and balanced education that supports their academic, personal, and social development. It features newly developed subjects and short courses, a strong focus on key skills, and modern approaches to assessment and reporting.

Assessment Methods
Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs)
CBAs allow students to demonstrate their learning in ways that go beyond traditional written exams. Depending on the subject or short course, CBAs may include oral presentations, project work, practical or creative tasks, experiments, performances, portfolios, or written assignments. Each subject includes two CBAs, usually completed in the second and third year. These are assessed by the class teacher, based on the learning that has taken place in the classroom.

Junior Certificate Examinations

The SEC final examinations take place at the end of the third year. These examinations:

They are no longer than two hours in duration
Are taken in a maximum of ten subjects
Are offered at a common level, apart from English, Irish, and Mathematics (which are available at both higher and ordinary levels)
They are graded using the following descriptors:
- Distinction
- Higher Merit
- Merit
- Achieved
- Partially Achieved

Subject List

All students at Junior Cycle study the following core subjects:

Irish
English
Mathematics
Science
History
Geography
Business

In addition, students choose three subjects from the following options before entering First Year:

Modern Foreign Language (MFL): French or Spanish (September 2026)

Practical Subject: Wood Technology, Graphics, Engineering, Music, Home Economics or Visual Art

Wellbeing Programme

As part of the Junior Cycle Wellbeing Programme, all students also participate in:

Physical Education (PE)
Civic, Social & Political Education (CSPE)
Social, Personal & Health Education (SPHE)
Digital Literacy

This combination ensures that every student at St. Fergal’s College has access to a wide range of learning opportunities, helping them to develop knowledge, skills, and values that will prepare them for Senior Cycle and beyond.