Home Economics is a subject that focuses on the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for living as individuals and as members of a family.  The learning experiences in Home Economics are pertinent to the social, creative and management needs and skills required for living in a complex, consumer oriented society.  It is concerned with the way individuals and families manage their resources to meet their physical, emotional, intellectual, social and economic needs. The study of Home Economics emphasises the interdependent relationship that exists between individuals, families and their immediate and distant environments. Home Economics has never been so important, with the rise in social issues such as obesity and poverty.  Home Economics is an option subject offered at both junior and senior cycle.

Junior Certificate

The syllabus for junior cycle is based on five core areas of study

• Food studies
• Resource management
• Social and health studies
• Consumer studies
• Textiles

Junior Certificate groups engage in a variety of practical cookery lessons. They produce a variety of sweet and savoury dishes that make the most of local, seasonal and cost effective ingredients. Students develop their culinary knowledge and skills throughout the three year cycle that are fundamental for future life.

Junior Certificate Home Economics has three examination components

1. Coursework – with the help of your teacher, you will choose a project from one of the following areas: child development, design and craftwork or textile skills

2. Practical cookery exam – a one and a half hour cookery exam which involves preparing, cooking, serving and evaluating food based on a pre–selected brief

 

3. Written exam which can be taken at higher or ordinary level

	Higher Level	Ordinary Level
Coursework	15%	15%
Cookery exam	35%	45%
Written exam	50%	40%

Links with other subjects:

There are links with other junior certificate subjects, such as Science, SPHE, Physical Education, Business Studies, Art and English.

Click here to view the Junior Certificate Syllabus

 

Leaving Certificate

In leaving certificate Home Economics (Social and Scientific) the core areas will be studied in greater detail.  However, if you have not studied Home Economics at junior cycle, it is still possible to choose it for senior cycle. The leaving certificate syllabus is extremely varied and has an important practical aspect to it.

The syllabus at leaving certificate is based on the following core areas of study:

• Food Studies
• Resource Management and Consumer Studies
• Social Studies

An elective area is also chosen from a choice of three;

• Home Design and Management
• Textiles, Fashion and Design
• Social Studies

The leaving certificate exam is structured in such a way that 20% of the marks are allocated to the research, planning, implementation and evaluation of four food studies assignments. The continuous assessment and practical skills element suit many students. In John the Baptist the majority of the practical coursework is completed in fifth year, thus facilitating the allocation of time in sixth year, to valuable revision and practice of exam questions.

Click here to view Leaving Certificate Syllabus

 

Extra-Curricular Activities in Home Economics

Students choosing Home Economics have the opportunity to get involved in many extra-curricular activities such as:

• cookery competitions
• healthy school initiative
• food market
• Christmas Cake Club
• Cookery Club
• Textile and Craft Workshops
• Visits out
• Visitors to the classroom

 

A number of students enjoyed great success in cookery competitions, including Louise McGrath who was named Senior Super Chef of the Year 2016.

Resources

We are very fortunate in John the Baptist to have two fully fitted modern Home Economics rooms.  Each room has 10 work stations. Both rooms are fitted with a computer, data projector and visualiser.  Our excellent I.T. facilities and the availability of high speed broadband, allow the utilisation of the most up to date teaching methodologies at the click of a button.