LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED IN SKIBBEREEN COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Programme Information Course Rationale

The Leaving Certificate Applied is a distinct, self-contained two-year Leaving Certificate, for students who wish to follow a practical programme with a strong vocational emphasis.

The Leaving Certificate Applied is designed for those students who do not wish to proceed directly to third level education or for those whose needs, aspirations and aptitudes are not adequately catered for by the traditional Leaving Certificate.

The fundamental goal of the Leaving Certificate Applied is to prepare students for transition from the world of the school to that of adult and working life.

The programme sets out to recognise the talents of all students and to provide opportunities for developing personal responsibility, self-esteem and self-knowledge and helps students apply what they learn to the real world.

The Leaving Certificate Applied is characterised by educational experiences of an active, practical, and student-centred nature.

The Leaving Certificate Applied consists of a range of courses, each designed on a modular basis. A module is of thirty hours duration.

Each year of the two-year programme is divided into two semesters, September to January and February to June, to facilitate the modular structure of the courses.

A module within a given course is usually completed within a semester.

Over the two-year duration of the programme the participants will complete 44 modules.

Course Structure

The Leaving Certificate Applied is structured around three main elements which are inter-related and interdependent:

· Vocational Preparation,

· Vocational Education

· General Education

LCA Curriculum in Skibbereen Community School

Vocational Preparation

o Vocational preparation & Guidance

o English & Communication

Vocational Education

· Vocational Specialisms:

· Hotel Catering & Tourism,

· Graphics & Construction

· Mathematical Applications

· Introduction to Information & Communication Technology

General Education

· Social Education

· Gaeilge only in 6th year, LCA 2

· Modern European Language – Spanish in 5th year, LCA 1

· Visual Art

· Leisure and Recreation

· Horticulture

· Information and Communication Technology

LCA modes of Assessment and Certification

· The Leaving Certificate Applied assessment takes place over the two years under three headings:

· Satisfactory completion of Modules - 31%

· Performance of Student Tasks - 35%

· Performance in the External Examinations – 34%

A. Module Completion

Students complete four modules over two years.

In order to be awarded credit students must attend the classes and out-of-school activities related to the modules and complete the key assignments related to the module.

A minimum attendance of 90% is required to obtain credits.

Where absence is due to illness, the student should supply a medical certificate to the school authorities.

Satisfactory completion of Modules accounts for 31% of students overall result.

B. Student Tasks

As part of the Leaving Certificate Applied students are required to complete seven student tasks, which are set and examined over the two years of the programme.

These tasks are reports completed by students, on an investigation of a topic/issue or development of a product, some are completed individually or in teams. The aim of these tasks is to apply classroom experience to real-life situations.

These seven tasks are examined by the Department of Education and Science, over the two years. Student tasks account for 35% of students overall result.

C. External Examinations

At the end of Year 2 students will also complete written examinations in the following areas:

· English and Communication

· Graphics & Construction

· Hotel, Catering & Tourism

· Mathematical Applications

· Gaeilge (in 6th year, end of year 2)

· Modern European Language (in 5th year, end of year 1)

· Social Education

Written Exams are prepared by the State Exams Commission under the direction of the Dept. of Education to be completed by LCA Students in years 1 & 2.

Written examinations account for 34% of students overall result.

Students who successfully complete the programme will receive a Leaving Certificate from the State Examinations Commission.

This certificate will be awarded at three levels:

Certificate Levels

Award Result Credits

Pass 60-69 % (120 - 139 credits)

Merit 70-84 % (140 - 169 credits)

Distinction 85-100 % (170 - 200 credits)

Candidates who acquire less than 120 credits will receive a Record of Experience. This will also apply to those who leave before the end of the programme.