WHAT'S NEW
Junior cycle developments consultation: Summary of the ideas paper now available (PDF, 448KB)
A consultation on a future junior cycle is now underway and a range of materials is available to support you in the consultation. An ideas paper Innovation and Identity: Ideas for a new Junior Cycle, a summary of this paper (PDF, 448KB), as well as other resources (video vox-pops from schools, a multimedia introduction) along with a short questionnaire and blog can be found at www.ncca.ie/juniorcycledevelopments.
Curriculum Planning Tool for primary teachers
Primary teachers can now save valuable time when undertaking their planning. The NCCA's newly-developed online planning tool helps teachers find and select content objectives from the Primary School Curriculum and creates planning notes. Fnd out more about and use the curriculum planning tool.
First Leaving Cert results for Project Maths students
Congratulations to the Leaving Certificate students from the 24 schools who participated in the initial stage of Project Maths. Credit is due to these students and their teachers for being the pioneers in this new curriculum initiative in mathematics.
18.5% of candidates from the 24 schools took the higher level paper, compared to the 16% of the candidates nationally who did so. Almost 80% of the Project Maths candidates achieved an A, B, or C grade at higher level – slightly better than the overall national performance. A greater percentage of candidates from the 24 schools also achieved A, B and C grades at Ordinary level and Foundation level than the overall national performance. Well done to all!
Next month, all schools commence the first of three phased changes in the mathematics syllabuses. Read more about Project Maths.
New support materials for primary teachers
Re-presented content objectives: Physical Education is designed to give an overview of the content objectives in each strand unit for physical education from junior infants to sixth class. It is available to view or download to help primary teachers in their planning for p.e. It is in addition to the English, Gaeilge, Maths and Science materials available previously. A new Primary Mathematics Glossary is also available.
Annual Report for 2009
The chairperson, Professor Tom Collins, launched the Annual Report for 2009 at Council meeting on June 17th. In keeping with NCCA's Strategic Plan, the report was published in digital format. Read Professor Collins comments at the launch.
Watch the Annual Report for 2009.
FÓN Project wins Taoiseach's Public Service Excellence Award
The FÓN Project has been awarded a Taoiseach's Public Service Excellence Award. The award is given in recognition of projects which promote innovation and excellence, creatively use resources and develop new efficiencies. The biennial award ceremony will take place in Dublin Castle on 8 July 2010. Read more about the FÓN project.
Check out our new Publications search facility
The NCCA Web team is constantly looking at ways of making life easier for you, the end user. By making our Publications listing searchable by category, we hope we have. Let us know what you think. Publications Search.
Key skills for 21st century learning
There is a lot of debate about the need for schools to help learners to develop 21st century skills to help them to create new knowledge and to navigate their way through change, uncertainty and opportunity. NCCA has been working with schools and teachers to do just that! View some videos and presentations, listen to what teachers and learners have to say about key skills and try out some of the key skills tools.