The new Junior Cycle is replacing the exam focused Junior Certificate. The Junior Cycle
ensures that students’ knowledge, skills and wellbeing is placed at the centre of the learning
process. The Junior Cycle subjects are being phased in over the next few years.
All students study:
Irish
English
Maths
History
Geography
Religious Education
Social, Personal and Health Education
Science
Computers
Physical Education
CSPE
In addition, 1st year students choose three from the following:
Art
Business Studies
French
German
Home Economics
Music
Technical Graphics
Technology
Woodwork

Big Changes
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English, Maths and Irish will assessed at Higher and Ordinary Level only
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All other subjects will be assessed at Common Level
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3 rd Years students are the last cohort to sit a CSPE exam
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Assessments grading has changed, see below
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New Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement, see below

Students are requested to rank their choices from 1 – 5 and from these rankings the subject groupings are devised

Junior Cycle
To request more information:
Contact the School
Mon-Fri 9am - 4pm
096 31194
You can also request more information with this form:

Transition Year
Transition Year is an invaluable optional year available to students before entering Senior Cycle. Our T.Y. is tailor made to suit the needs of the students in promoting their personal, social, spiritual, educational and vocational development. We currently run 3 T.Y. classes due to the increased demand.
Our Whole School Evaluation report commented as follows on the T.Y. Programme “The T.Y. programme is well established and a significant number of students opt for the programme on an annual basis. It offers variety in terms of the breadth and balance of the subjects studied. Key to the success of the programme is the dedication and commitment of the teachers to the ethos of the T.Y. The programme makes optimum use of individual teachers’ skills, knowledge and interest”.
Subjects
Religious Education, Irish, English, Maths
French/ German, Students sample Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Vocational Preparation, Physical Education
Modules offered vary from year to year and may include:
Social Education, History, Enterprise, Music,Geography, Careers, Cookery, Photography, Woodwork, Computers, Art, Business Studies,
Choral singing, Social Dancing, Sport, Public Speaking/Toast Masters, ECDL.
In addition the students are involved in all aspects of drama, field trips, tours, retreats, work experience, operating a business (mini-company), interviews, and a variety of workshops.
To request more information:
Contact the School
Mon-Fri 9am - 4pm
096 31194
You can also request more information with this form:
Maths
Religious Education (non-academic)
Physical Education
Guidance
SPHE/RSE
Students currently choose four of the following:
French
Accounting
Construction
German
Technology
History
Design & Communication Technology
Geography
Home Economics
Biology
Music
Chemistry
Art
Physics
Business
Agricultural Science
Religious Education Academic (an additional extra – outside of the groupings)

Students are requested to rank their choices from 1 – 7 and from these rankings the subject groupings are devised
Leaving Cert Assessments:
A key feature of our strategy to help students achieve their true potential at their academic studies is our assessment procedure.
In Leaving Cert, students are formally assessed and results posted home on 3 occasions i.e. at the end of September, end of October, and following the Mock exams. The parent teacher meeting for Leaving Certs is held in November before which further assessments are carried out. Following each assessment the results of each student are closely examined and analysed by the Principal, Deputy Principal and Year Head. Many students are then met individually.
Our Leaving Cert students achieve excellent results and Gortnor Abbey is the highest performing school in the locality in relation to progression rates to third level. Last year four students were awarded entrance scholarships to four different third level colleges.
Senior Cycle
Scholarship Recipients 2014 :
Orla Clinton – Trinity College Dublin
Karen Mc Andrew – St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra
Noelle Loftus – DCU Entrance Scholarship
Scholarships 2015:
Ruth Brennan - UCD
Michael Walsh - NUIG
Scholarships 2016:
Niamh Larkin - UCD
Kate Iarajuli - UCD
