LEAVING CERT APPLIED
PROGRAMME
The Leaving Certificate Applied is
an alternative to the Department of Education Leaving Certificate programme.
The Leaving Certificate Applied is a different approach to education and
training. Students apply their knowledge, skills and experience to practical
tasks at school, in the workplace and in the wider community.
The Leaving Certificate Applied
challenges young people by setting them major tasks. These tasks demand that
students make links across the various courses they have taken.
Credits are awarded to the student
upon completion of each task. The Leaving Certificate Applied promotes
interpersonal communication skills, self-initiative, teamwork and high
achievement.
Six Key Questions about LCA
Q. 1 What is the Leaving Certificate Applied?
The Leaving Certificate Applied is
a distinct, self-contained two-year programme aimed at
preparing students for adult and working life. The programme puts an emphasis
on forms of achievement and excellence which the established Leaving
Certificate has not recognised in the past.
Q.2 Why was the Leaving Certificate Applied introduced?
The Leaving Certificate Applied
was introduced to recognise the talents of all students and provide
opportunities for development in terms of responsibility, self-esteem and
self-knowledge. It is an innovative programme in the way students learn, in
what they learn and in the way their achievements are assessed.
Q.3 Who would benefit most from the Leaving Certificate Applied?
The Leaving Certificate Applied is
intended to meet the needs of those students who are not adequately catered for
by other Leaving Certificate programmes or who choose not to opt for such
programmes.
Q.4 What is the advantage of the Leaving Certificate Applied?
The advantage of Leaving
Certificate Applied is that it focuses on the talents of each individual
student and helps students apply what they learn in the real world. The
two-year programme consists of four half-year blocks called Sessions and
achievements are credited in each of these Sessions.
Q.5 Do students have
a choice within the Leaving Certificate Applied?
Each course consists of a number
of modules. A module generally represents a half-year’s work and there is
provision for some choice of modules.
Q.6 Do Leaving Certificate
Applied students receive a Leaving Certificate?
Yes. Students who successfully
complete the programme will receive a Leaving Certificate from the State
Examinations Commission. All credits awarded will be recorded on the Leaving
Certificate Applied parchment.
It was established in 1997
introduced into
The two year course is divided
into 4 sessions
·
September
– January, Year 1
·
February
– June, Year 1
·
September
– January, Year 2
·
February
– June, Year 2
Subjects in LCA
(Loreto C.S.)
Eleven
subjects are done over the two years. This is done in consultation with the
students and their interests as well as staff considerations.
1.
Vocational Education – students may study some of the following
subjects:
·
Mathematical Applications (compulsory)
·
I.C.T.
·
Hair and Beauty
·
Engineering
·
Childcare
·
Craft and Design
·
Construction
·
Catering
·
Horticulture
2.
Vocational Preparation – students study each of the following
subjects:
·
V.P.G.
·
English and Communication
·
Work Experience
3.
General Education
·
Art
·
Social Ed.
·
Language (Irish in Year1/ Foreign language (French or Spanish in
Year 2)
·
Religious Education
·
Leisure and Recreation (P.E.)
At present, students
go on work experience one day per week. They experience 4 placements over the
two years.