Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations Primary - elementary or first level school for children aged 4-12
Secondary - second level school for children aged 12-18
Junior Infants - year one in school
Senior Infants - year two in school
First Class - year three in school
Second Class - year four in school
Third Class - year five in school
Fourth Class - year six in school
Fifth Class - year seven in school
Sixth Class - year eight in school
Junior School - Year one through four
Senior School - Year five through eight
DES - Department of Education and Skills
PCSP - Primary Curriculum Support Service
RCSS - Regional Curriculum Support Service
PDST - Professional Development Service for Teachers
INTO - Irish National Teachers’ Organisation
PSSI - Primary School, Sports Initiative
ITE - Initial Teacher Education
ESRI – Economic and Social Research Institute
NCCA - National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
O&AA - Outdoor and Adventure Activities (from Irish Primary Curriculum)
OAA - Outdoor Adventurous Activities (from UK Curriculum – Key Stage 2-4)
OE - Outdoor Education
AE - Adventure Education
Curaclam na Bunscoile - Curriculum of the Primary School (1971 edition)
Concurrent ITE - Students study an academic subject or subjects at the same time as
gaining a teaching qualification
Consecutive ITE - Students take a course in pedagogy subsequent to an initial
qualification in a teaching subject or subject
