Students usually begin the Junior Cycle at age 12. The Junior Certificate examination is taken after three years.  The Junior Certificate Programme builds on the foundations of Primary Education. It allows you to achieve a level of competence in a wide range of subjects that will enable you to proceed to Senior Cycle.  A number of our schools also offer the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) which provides a curricular framework that helps to make the Junior Certificate more accessible to young people who may leave school early.