JCSP Policy
Background of Programme
The Junior Certificate Programme (JCSP) is a national programme sponsored by the Department of Education and Skills and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. The programme currently operated in over 240 schools around the country.
JCSP aims to provide a curriculum framework that assists schools and teachers in making the Junior Certificate more accessible to those young people who may leave school without formal qualifications. It attempts to help young people experience success and develop a positive self-image by providing a curriculum and assessment framework suitable to their needs. On completion of the programme students receive a profile which is an official record of their achievements from the Department of Education and Skills.
JCSP is not an alternative Junior Certificate. All JCSP students sit the Junior Certificate and follow the Junior Certificate programme.
.Selection of students For JCSP
All first year students are JCSP students.
As of 2014-2015, all first and second years students included in JCSP programme.
As of 2015-2016, all Junior Cycle students will be included in JCSP programme.
The following criteria is used to select target students:
Low academic performance and repeated experiences of failure in learning in primary school
Disruptive behaviour in primary school
Lack of confidence and low self esteem
Difficulties with social interaction. A lack of engagement with teachers but also with
A record of high absenteeism from school
Report from an educational psychologist
Social welfare dependency/lone parents
Experience of trauma
Part of a cultural minority
Information gathered in primary school
Please see Appendix 1 for the most up to date criteria code for selection of JCSP Targets
As a team, the decision has been made to move away from this selection process and instead involve all students in the JCSP programme. The following reasons were cited for this change:
As a DEIS school and with a large cohort of students in need of learning support and resource hours, the minority of students were not JCSP targets.
As our enrolment numbers are small we cannot facilitate the running of a separate JCSP class, this makes it very difficult to do separate activities and initiatives with just JCSP targets.
We have therefore been offering JCSP activities and initiatives to all students in order to promote inclusion.
There is a discrepancy as a result – all students are supported through the JCSP programme but only target students have been receiving final certification.
We feel that JCSP supports all of our students in terms of literacy, numeracy and positive attitudes.
Who has been involved in the selection process?
The JCSP Core team which comprises of: JCSP Co-ordinator, Principal, vice principal, SCP project worker, HSCL teacher, guidance counsellor and learning support teachers. The Core team may seek advice and information from class tutors and subject teachers when selecting students.
While the JCSP team targets all students, we still focus on particular students at a particular time, depending on individual needs. Once a month the core team quickly reviews all students and highlights those in need of additional support in terms of attendance, homework, organisation etc. The team then asks teachers to place a special focus on these students for the coming month.
Organisation of JCSP in your school
There is no JCSP class. Students are not streamed but are in mixed classrooms. The JCSP programme is carried out through each subject area. Subject departments are required to choose the JCSP statements for each year group at the start of the academic year and to inform the core team of their choices. All students are required to work on at least one statement from each subject area, each year.
Initiatives and activities are implemented through subject departments. Cross curricular planning is promoted. For example, English, Maths and woodwork department working on Make a Book Project. The English and Maths department run the literacy and numeracy initiatives in conjunction with other subjects.
Every effort is made to ensure that each year group gets a number of opportunities throughout the year to engage in initiatives, activities and trips however the focus is on 1st and 2nd years.
Curriculum Provision
All JCSP students have access to all subjects in first year. At the end of first year students make subject choices with regard to options for 2nd and 3rd year.
All subject departments are encouraged to follow the JCSP programme. A workshop is given at the start of each school year and there are JCSP reminders at each staff meeting. All subject Departments are required to work on at least one statement each year with each year group.
The literacy and numeracy needs of students are addressed through learning support and our whole school policy which requires all subject teachers to promote and support literacy and numeracy within their subject.
Cross curricular approaches are encouraged through initiatives where various subject departments work together.
How does profiling take place?
Subject and cross curricular statements are used within individual classes. Three profile meetings take place in third year. The Core team meets in November, the Core team and Subject teachers in February and the Core team again in March. The information gathered by the coordinator at these meetings is used for the final profiling of students. Feedback is provided to students through the core team and the use of postcards/phone calls home.
Programme co-ordination and Development
The correct time allocation is available in the school for the co-ordination of the programme. The current programme co-ordinators are Áine Noonan and Miriam Murphy. 3 hours 20 mins per week is allocated to the coordinators for this post. During this time, meetings, initiatives and actions take place.
Statements
A statement describes an area of knowledge, a concept or a skill. It states that a student knows, understand or can do something. Statements are divided up in to learning targets.
Learning targets are specific short –term goals which, when combined, lead to the successful completion of a statement. They outline the steps to be followed and the material to be covered if the student is to achieve competence in the more long term goal: statement.
Any teacher on the JCSP team who has worked through a statement with a student can recommend awarding that statement to the student. The JCSP team considers the recommendation at a profile meeting and decides on the award of the statement.
In general students can be awarded a statement when they are competent in at least 80 per cent of the learning targets in the following four areas: Frequency, Accuracy, Independence, and Sustainability.
Subject departments are required to choose the JCSP statements for each year group at the start of the academic year and to inform the core team of their choices. All students are required to work on at least one statement from each subject area, each year.
Co-ordinator monitors student progress through conversation and feedback forms from subject teachers. Subject teachers are recommended to keep a large class statement on the wall of the classroom. Once completed, statements are given to co-ordinator. This information is stored in the filing cabinet in Room 10. The information is then reviewed during profiling meetings.
Initiatives
Each September the co-ordinators alerts staff of the available initiatives through email and the JCSP notice board. Staff are invited to apply for initiatives. The core team reviews all applications and those that are decided upon are applied for through JCSP by the Co-ordinator.
The core team plans a calendar of events for the academic year. Initiatives are run through the various subject teachers with the support of the co-ordinator. Subject teachers are responsible for evaluating the initiative and giving this information to the co-ordinator who feeds it back to JCSP.
Teaching Team
All Junior Cycle teachers teach JCSP students.
Induction of new teachers
A brief introduction/refresher presentation is given to all Junior Cycle staff at the start of the school year. Any new staff are given further induction in a small group or one to one setting with the co-ordinator. Staff who are new to JCSP are encouraged to attend in service.
Student Folders
All JCSP students have JCSP folders which are divided in to subject areas. They keep these folders at home or in their lockers. They are asked by subject teachers to place various things in their folders throughout the year. The co-ordinator monitors the folders throughout the year by asking students to present their folders.
Involvement in initiatives
A variety of initiatives are chosen each year. There is always a focus on literacy and numeracy. Initiatives are chosen according to the needs of students and teacher requests. The co-ordinator applies for initiatives which are then run and evaluated by subject teachers. The co-ordinator offers support and advice to subject teachers throughout the initiatives. Certain initiatives are run each year as part of the whole school development of literacy and numeracy such as word millionaire and DEAR, regardless of whether or not they have been applied for officially.
JCSP resources
All subject teachers are invited to apply for resources through the co-ordinator. A large order is placed with JCSP at the start of each school year. A large quantity of art supplies is also ordered through the school office using a purchase requisition form. Initiative funding is used for resources needed for running them. Subject teachers alert the co-ordinator of resources needed who then orders them. Staff are made aware of new resources through staff meetings, emails and the JCSP notice board. Resources are stored in Room 10.
Informing Parents
Parents are informed about the programme at the first year induction night each September. On-going communication through HSCL teachers, post cards, school website, celebrations, initiatives such as Bake off and Paired maths, phone calls and the newsletter keep parents informed.
Parental involvement in JCSP
Parents participate in some initiatives such as Bake off, paired maths, paired reading and by attending celebrations and award nights.
JCSP Postcards
These are available in the staffroom and in Room 10. Staff are reminded at each staff meeting to send a post card. Tutors are regularly reminded via email to use the postcards where possible.
JCSP Celebration
There are large celebrations at Christmas and Summer time for parents, teachers and students. In the past this has involved A Mad Hatter’s tea party, a festive breakfast and a pizza party. Smaller celebrations take place throughout the year to mark the end of an initiative.
Make a Book exhibition
Each year 1st and 2nd year students participate in MAB and first years attend. It is co-ordinated by the English department who works with other subject departments to create a cross curricular projects. Past projects have been based on The Hunger Games, They Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The History of Macroom.
Professional Development of Teachers
The calendar of in service is displayed on the JCSP notice board. Both the co-ordinator and principal target staff members they feel may benefit from particular in service. Feedback is given to all staff at staff meetings by those who have attended in service.
Other Projects or Developments involving JCSP students
JCSP students are targeted for projects with the Access Programmes at CIT and UCC. They are also involved in Graffiti and study skills workshops organised by the Guidance teacher. Through the HSCL teacher students and their parents are involved in initiatives such as Bake Off which is partially funded by JCSP. They are also involved in other projects such as Robotics and science projects.
Evaluation
Students and teachers are involved in the evaluation of initiatives. The core team collates feedback and the co-ordinator sends this feedback back to JCSP as necessary. Celebrations and other events are evaluated by the core team at weekly meetings. Each year the JCSP policy is reviewed in October.