The Junior Entrepreneur Programme (or JEP) is a well established schools programme which gives students the opportunity to experience practical, real-life business learning as part of their formative education. Spa National School has been a proud participant in the Junior Entrepreneurship programme since 2013 and every year the students in 5th class have loved the experience.
Running over a 12 to 16 week period during the school year, J.E.P, nurtures creativity, independence and problem-solving among pupils of all abilities, with every aspect of the Programme seamlessly blending into the primary school curriculum. Under their teacher’s guidance, and with the help of participating local entrepreneurs, the students discover their strengths as individuals and as part of a team. Together, they choose, develop and produce their own product or service from scratch, all the way to making it available for sale at a school-hosted JEP Showcase Day. Sometimes they even invest a small amount of their own money in their idea – and maybe even earn some profits.
Spa N.S. has completed many different and wonderful J.E.P programmes and every year our 5th class students love to develop the large number of skills like presentation, literacy, writing, drawing, technology, financial skills, consumer awareness, storytelling, listening skills, creative thinking, problem-solving, collaborative skills and team work included in this innovative programme.
Spa N.S. has also been invited to participate in the National J.E.P. showcase event in the R.D.S. in Dublin on a few occasions, always a huge honour and a great day out for all of the students. Everyone in Spa N.S. is delighted to nurture this entrepreneurial spirit’ in our students and look forward to seeing all of these junior entrepreneurs going onto achieve even greater things in the years ahead!
