In Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School Students we have five core subjects which students are required to take:
English
English in junior cycle aims to develop students’ knowledge of language and literature, to consolidate and deepen their literacy skills and make them more self-aware as learners.
More specifically it encourages all students:
- to be creative through language and to gain enjoyment and continuing personal growth from English in all its forms
- to develop control over English using it and responding to it with purpose and effect through the interconnected literacy skills of oral language, reading and writing
- to engage personally with and think critically about an increasingly broad range of spoken, written and multimodal texts
- to develop an informed appreciation of literature through personal encounters with a variety of literary texts
- to use their literacy skills to manage information needs, and find, use, synthesise, evaluate and communicate information using a variety of media
- to gain an understanding of the grammar and conventions of English and how they might be used to promote clear and effective communication.
Gaeilge
Junior Certificate Irish builds upon the language developed during primary education. The learner’s vocabulary is both reinforced and enriched at this stage and the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) are further developed. In addition, the learner’s linguistic and cultural awareness are expanded over the three years of junior cycle.
History
The study of history at junior cycle aims to enable students to develop the necessary conceptual understanding, disciplinary skills and subject knowledge to investigate the actions of people in the past and to come to a deeper understanding of the human condition. Students also come to see the world, and their place in it, from a historical perspective; and understand how the people and events of the past have shaped the contemporary world.
The study of history instils in students a respect for integrity, objectivity and looking at issues from different perspectives. This capacity for critical thinking helps them to interrogate sources of evidence and make judgements about the viewpoint expressed, including the capacity to identify propaganda.
Maths
Maths focuses on developing students’ ability to think logically, strategically, critically, and creatively, while empowering individuals to become critical citizens through the exploration of:
- Number
- Geometry & Trigonometry
- Algebra & Functions
- Statistics & Probability
- Unifying strand.
These capabilities enable students to respond to familiar and unfamiliar situations by employing mathematics to make informed decisions and solve problems efficiently.
Modern Foreign Language - French
The Specification for Junior Cycle Modern Foreign Languages aims to develop communicative language skills. It also aims to enable students to explore the interdependence between language and culture, to develop their appreciation of the relevance of languages to their lives for personal, social, educational, vocational and leisure purposes, and to derive enjoyment from language learning.
More specifically it encourages all students to
• actively engage in language activities and tasks, developing the capacity to understand written and spoken language
• communicate effectively and confidently in the target language in familiar contexts through a range of media
• develop their capacity to use appropriate structures and vocabulary for the purposes of communication, both written and oral
• enjoy a language-learning experience that will facilitate and encourage them to continue learning languages in future
• be reflective and autonomous in their language learning, and become actively involved in monitoring and assessing their progress
• appreciate their own and other cultures
• develop skills that they can apply to other areas of study and to their lives.
Science
Science in junior cycle aims to develop students’ evidence-based understanding of the natural world and their ability to gather and evaluate evidence: to consolidate and deepen their skills of working scientifically; to make them more self-aware as learners and become competent and confident in their ability to use and apply science in their everyday lives.
More specifically it encourages all students:
- to develop a sense of enjoyment in the learning of science, leading to a lifelong interest in science
- to develop scientific literacy and apply this to the analysis of science issues relevant to society, the environment and sustainability
- to develop a scientific habit of mind and inquiry orientation through class, laboratory and/ or off-site activities that foster investigation, imagination, curiosity and creativity in solving engaging, relevant problems, and to improve their reasoning and decision-making abilities
- to develop the key skills of junior cycle to find, use, manage, synthesise, and evaluate data; to communicate scientific understanding and findings using a variety of media; and to justify ideas on the basis of evidence
- to acquire a body of scientific knowledge; to develop an understanding of Earth and space and their place in the physical, biological, and chemical world and to help establish a foundation for more advanced learning.