Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA)

The Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement, known as the JCPA, is awarded to students at the end of Junior Cycle. It gives students, parents/guardians and teachers a broad picture of the student’s learning journey across the three years of Junior Cycle.

The JCPA records achievement across a range of areas, including State Examination results, Classroom-Based Assessments, short courses where applicable, wellbeing, and Other Areas of Learning.

What is included on the JCPA?

The JCPA may include information on the following areas:

State Examination results
Classroom-Based Assessment descriptors
Short courses, where applicable
Priority Learning Units, where applicable
Other Areas of Learning
Other Areas of Wellbeing, where applicable

Other Areas of Learning

Other Areas of Learning, often called OALs, allow students to record learning experiences and achievements that took place as part of school life outside formal subject reporting.

Examples may include participation in school teams, clubs, student leadership, competitions, performances, school events, charity work, projects, awards or other school-related activities.

Junior Cycle Key Skills

Students are encouraged to link their Other Areas of Learning to the Junior Cycle key skills.

Communicating
Being creative
Being literate
Being numerate
Managing information and thinking
Managing myself
Staying well
Working with others

Writing your Other Areas of Learning

Students should write their Other Areas of Learning in the third person. They should focus on what they did, what they learned, and the skills they developed.

Students should aim to write clear, accurate sentences and should check spelling, grammar and punctuation before submitting their work.

Examples of Other Areas of Learning

She represented the school on the basketball team and developed teamwork and communication skills.
He participated in the school musical and developed confidence, creativity and performance skills.
She was a member of the Student Council and contributed to student voice in the school.
He helped with a charity fundraiser and developed organisational and teamwork skills.
She took part in a school science competition and developed research and problem-solving skills.

Submitting Other Areas of Learning

Students may be asked to submit their Other Areas of Learning using the school’s online form or worksheet. These submissions are reviewed by the school before being included on the JCPA, where appropriate.

Students who need help completing their Other Areas of Learning should speak to their Year Head, class teacher, Guidance Counsellor or the school office.

JCPA Privacy Notice and Consent

Schools are required to bring a privacy notice to the attention of parents/guardians before processing student information for the purpose of producing the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement.

The information used to produce the JCPA may include student details, Junior Cycle subjects, Classroom-Based Assessment descriptors, State Examination results, short courses where applicable, and Other Areas of Learning.

Other Areas of Learning allow the school to recognise learning experiences and achievements that students have participated in as part of school life outside the formal timetabled curriculum.

Please read the JCPA Privacy Notice carefully. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.