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

• English, Maths and Irish will assessed at Higher and Ordinary Level only

• All other subjects will be assessed at Common Level

• 3 rd Years students are the last cohort to sit a CSPE exam

• Assessments grading has changed, see below

• 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

To request more information:

Contact the School 

Mon-Fri 9am - 4pm

096 31194
office@gortnorabbey.ie

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
office@gortnorabbey.ie

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.

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

​