From September 2024, all students in Junior Cycle years (First, Second and Third Year) in the free education system will receive free schoolbooks and certain other core resources.

All Junior Cycle post primary school students will benefit from the use of all the textbooks, workbooks and core classroom resources that they will need for the coming school year.

If your student leaves the school during the school year/during their Junior Cycle, all books and any related classroom resources he/she has been using must be returned to the school before he/she departs. It will be the responsibility of your student’s new school to provide him/her with a complete set of books, including textbooks, workbooks and copies as well as any related classroom resources.

Funding under this scheme cannot include the purchase of digital devices.

No. It is your decision whether your student takes part or not. However, if you decide that your student will not take part in the Scheme, you will have to buy all the textbooks, workbooks, copies and stationery he/she will need. The list of what your student will require is posted on the school website, and it will be your responsibility to make sure that your student has all of these items when he/she returns for the new school year. The school will not be obliged to refund the cost of such purchases to you.

The simple answer to this question is yes, you will. The following is a breakdown of what the Free School Books Scheme Grant pays for:

• Textbooks
• Workbooks
• Core classroom resources

The Free School Books Grant also allows for the inclusion of additional resources as the budget allows. However, the provision beyond the core list is not possible. The Free School Books Scheme also does not cover co-curricular or extracurricular activities such as school trips that may require payment. It does not cover photocopying. It will not also cover additional materials that may be needed for subjects such as ingredients for Home Economics.

The Free School Books Scheme allows for us to provide core classroom resources  including a hardback copy, a copy and other core resources. However, this will depend on what funds are left after the costs of purchasing textbooks. Therefore, you may have to provide additional stationery items for your student throughout the year. This might include pencils, pens, erasers, colours, post-its, Pritt Sticks and so on.

All textbooks and classroom resources must be stored in their school locker or at home. No books or classroom resources should be stored/left on shelving around the school.

Yes. All textbooks will be covered with plastic to preserve their state and help to ensure they will be useable by future students.

Each book will be barcoded to track the process and to help reunite found books with their owners.

It is important that schoolbooks are kept in good condition so they can be reused. The funding for future years of the scheme is likely to be reduced to reflect the reuse of books.

If a schoolbook is damaged beyond repair or missing at the end of their use and so cannot be used by another student, the student and their parents/guardians will be expected to replace the textbook at their own cost. Please help make sure that your children keep the schoolbooks safe and in good condition so that they can be used again by another child.

All student must take exceptional care of their textbooks. It is their responsibility. If a book is mislaid, the student must inform schoolbooks@johnthebaptistcs.ie by email immediately. The school may be able to replace the textbook but only if funding allows. This not guaranteed and the replacement cost may have to be borne by parents/guardians. No book will be provided for at least one week to allow the student to thoroughly search for their book/materials and/or to order a new book as needed.

No. Students are expected to keep all their books bought as part of the booklist in First and Second Year. Students will be given any additional/extra books required as they move into Second and Third Year but funds do not allow for the replacement of any books purchased before the introduction of this scheme.

All workbooks and core resources will be new.  However, in an effort to reduce waste and address sustainability, some second-hand textbooks may be used at times.

As stated in the above point, all textbooks remain the property of the school. You may, however, keep the workbooks and copies into which your student has written at the end of the school year.

All textbooks will remain the property of John the Baptist Community School. Your student will have the use of them for the year and will be expected to look after them, and then return them to the school in good condition the following May. Students should not write on textbooks and novels. Your student will also be given workbooks and copies, which they will write into. At the end of the school year, these workbooks and copies may be kept by you and disposed of as you wish.

Nothing. The school will provide your student with the correct textbooks, workbooks and copies they will need for their Year level in August/September.

Each student will be given each of the following core classroom resources:

• One hardback copy per subject
• A softback copy/A4 refill pad per subject (as required by book list)
• A4 Display Folder
• A4 Button Folder
• Science Lab Copy
• English Dictionary
• Irish Dictionary
• French Dictionary
• A scientific calculator – one per student (this will not be replaced by the school if lost)
• Log Book

Certain option materials if needed are also covered (from core list from Department of Education)

• Music Manuscript
• Business Ledgers 1, 2 & 3

No. The Free School Books Scheme is exactly that, free. No deposits will be requested.