Post-Primary Context

The Junior Certificate Schools Programme (JCSP)

The Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) is a national programme under the auspices of the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST). Currently, the programme is offered in 224 schools throughout the country.

JCSP is not separate to the Junior Certificate/ Cycle. Rather, the JCSP programme complements the Junior Certificate/ Cycle and offers an alternative way of working within the Junior Certificate/ Cycle. The programme aims to ensure that students actively participate in their learning, make progress and build on their achievements. The programme also aims to develop students’ literacy, numeracy, communication and group work skills. At the core of JCSP is the belief that every student is capable of success. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies used should reflect this student-centred approach and should foster student engagement with learning and the development of key skills.

On completion of the programme, students receive a profile which is an official record of their achievements from the Department of Education.

Schools devise their own criteria to select students to participate in the JCSP programme.

Some selection criteria may include a history of absenteeism or behavioural issues in primary school, recommendations from the Home School Community Liaison Officer and low levels of literacy or numeracy. Students can enter the programme at any stage in Junior Cycle but must complete one year of the programme in order to receive a Final Profile.

The JCSP programme aims to ensure that a student’s educational experience is as positive as possible. Parental involvement is actively encouraged throughout the JCSP programme. A JCSP coordinator oversees the programme in each school.

Statements, Initiatives and Profiling

The JCSP programme is underpinned by statements, initiatives and profiling. A statement describes an area of knowledge, a concept or a skill. It states that a student knows, understands or can do something. Statements are divided into achievable learning targets. Students track their own progress with the statements and understand that achieving statements is a path for learning and achievement. When students have completed 80% of the learning targets they have successfully achieved the statement. Statements are designed and reviewed by teachers to support student engagement and learning. These statements support the Junior Certificate/ Cycle. Students maintain a record of their progress in their JCSP folders, where they also store samples of their best work.

Profiling is the process of gathering positive information about what the student has achieved and recording what the student can do. Through profiling, a student can gain recognition for subject work completed. Throughout this process, a record of student’s success and achievements is being established. Teachers engage in profiling meetings to reflect on and discuss the progress of students. At the end of third year, the JCSP coordinator inputs a final profile outlining all statements achieved by the student.

The student’s JCSP learning journey is supported by initiatives. JCSP Initiatives offer opportunities for students to become involved in innovative and creative ways of supporting and consolidating their learning. The JCSP programme offers a varied range of initiatives to schools. Some initiatives enable schools to have visits from authors, artists or chefs to work with students. Other initiatives enable schools to participate in trips or activities relevant to their learning, such as a trip to an art gallery. Schools often celebrate the achievements of JCSP students with a Christmas or Summer celebration. Parents are often encouraged to attend these events to recognise and celebrate the achievements of students.

Additional Supports

The JCSP website has a wealth of information on the JCSP programme. The contact details of the PDST JCSP team are listed here.

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