The curriculum in St. Joseph of Cluny is split into three cycles:
Junior Cycle (1st to 3rd year)
Transition Cycle (4th year)
Senior Cycle (5th to 6th year)
Below is a list of the subject choices and the number of classes per week. Please use the Curriculum menu above to get more detailed information on each of the cycles.
Junior Cycle
The core subjects for all students are Irish, English, Mathematics, History, Geography, C.S.P.E. and Religion. Science and a Continental Language, i.e. French or German are compulsory subjects for Junior Certificate Examination. Two Option subjects are chosen from Art, Home Economics, Business, Music, German, French.
Teachers of the option subjects give a presentation of their subjects to the parents of the incoming First Years at the pre-entry information session in March preceding entry. Subject descriptions and implications for Leaving Certificate are presented in the information booklet. In so far as it is possible First Year students who are unhappy in their option subject choice are facilitated in changing subjects during the first few weeks of their first term.
Core Subjects and number of classes per week:
- English (4 classes per week)
- Gaeilge (4 classes per week)
- Maths (5 classes per week)
- French/Spanish/German (i.e. 1 or 2 selected)
- History (3 classes per week)
- Geography (3 classes per week)
- Science (4 classes per week)
- Library (1class per week *2nd Year only)
- RE (3 classes per week)
- PE (2 classes per week)
- SPHE (1 class per week)
- CSPE (1 class per week)
- Computers (1 class per week *1st and 3rd Year only)
- Choir (1 class per week)
Option Subjects (4 classes per week):
1st/2nd/3rd Years - two selected
- Business Studies
- Home Economics
- Art
- Musicianship
Total = 44 class periods per week. Each student presents 11 subjects for examination in the Junior Certificate, including RE.
Notes:
- German and Spanish are generally offered in alternative years to incoming First Years
- 1st and 2nd Years only have a Choir class
- 3rd Years do not have Choir class. History is given an extra period
- Students are divided into Honours and Pass classes in Maths and Gaeilge at the beginning of 2nd Year based on their 1st Year performance.
- All other class groupings are mixed ability
Transition Year Cycle
The Transition Year timetable is based around the normal school timetable of 44 class periods per week, student will complete full-year programmes in all of the following core subjects.
- English (4 classes per week)
- Mathematics (4 classes per week)
- Gaeilge (3 classes per week)
- French or German (3 classes per week)
- Religion (3 classes per week)
- P.E.(2 classes per week)
- Computers (1 class per week)
Students will also complete modules of approximately seven or eight weeks in all of the following Leaving Certificate option subjects:
- Chemistry, Geography, Music, Pharmacology(4 classes per week)
- Art, Business, Economics, Physics(4 classes per week)
- Biology, Field Studies, Home Economics, History(4 classes per week)
Students will also select one subject from the following in which you will complete a full-year programme through 3 classes per week.
- Art & Craft
- Culinary Arts
- Enterprise Education
You will over the course of the year complete courses in each of the following practical module activities:
- Aromatherapy
- Fashion Studies
- Health & Lifestyle
- Fitness at WestWood Gym
- Reflexology
- Dance, Drama, Singing(2 classes per week)
- CardioKickboxing, Self-Defence, Spanish(2 classes per week)
- Computers (ECDL), Media Studies, Public Speaking(2 classes per week)
Students will also have day-long workshops in Imagination & Creativity, as well as afternoon workshops in Disability Awareness and Team-Building through Samba Drumming.
Senior Cycle
Students take 7 subjects for Leaving Certificate, Irish, English and Mathematics are taken by all students. In most cases students take a Continental Language for Leaving Certificate. Students chose 3 other Option Subjects. The option subjects offered for Senior Cycle are:
- Art
- Biology
- Business
- Chemistry
- Economics
- Geography
- Spanish/German
- History
- Home Economics
- Music
- Physics
Fifth Year Core Subjects:
- Gaeilge (5 classes per week)
- English (5 classes per week)
- Maths (5 classes per week)
- French/Spanish (5 classes per week)
- RE (3 classes per week)
- PE (2 classes per week)
- Computers (1class per week)
- Career Guidance (1class per week)
Fifth Year Option Subjects, students chose one subject from each line:
- Economics / Home Economics / Chemistry / Biology / Music (5 classes per week)
- Biology / Home Economics / Physics / Geography / History (5 classes per week)
- Geography / Biology / Business / Art / Spanish (5 classes per week)
Total – 44 class periods
Sixth Year Core Subjects:
- Gaeilge (5 classes per week)
- English (5 classes per week)
- Maths (5 classes per week)
- French/German (5 classes per week)
- Computers (1 class per week)
- RE (3 classes per week)
- PE (2 classes per week)
- Career Guidance (1 class per week)
- Study (2 classes per week)
Sixth Year Option Subjects, students chose one subject from each line:
- Business / Biology / Geography / Chemistry / History (5 classes per week)
- Economics / Home Economics / Geography / Music / Physics (5 classes per week)
- Art / Home Economics / Biology (x2) / Chemistry / German (5 classes per week)
Subject Choice: Students have a Guidance class on points to bear in mind when choosing option subjects, plus information in a booklet on subject descriptions and Third Level implications. ‘Fourth Year Subject Options Survey’ is carried out in April to facilitate the drawing up of the subject option groupings. Students have an individual Guidance meeting where their aptitudes, interests and career aspirations are discussed in the light of subject choice. The final subject groupings are presented to students in May