Leaving Certificate Applied

Overview

The Professional Development Service for Teachers is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan

What is the Leaving Certificate Applied?

It is a distinct, self-contained two-year Leaving Certificate programme aimed at preparing learners for adult and working life

It emphasises forms of achievement and excellence which the established Leaving Certificate has not recognised in the past

It offers learners specific opportunity to prepare for and progress to further education and training

Key Underlying Principles

student centred curriculum

personal and social development

integration and cross curricular links

team work

literacy & numeracy development

active teaching/learning methodologies

reflection

community links

Vocational Specialism Options Agriculture/Horticulture

Hotel Catering and Tourism

Engineering

Technology

Office Administration and Customer Care

Childcare/Community Care

Graphics and Construction Studies

Craft and Design

Hair and Beauty

Information and Communications Technology

Active Leisure Studies

Elective modules may be selected from the following courses:Course Name No. of modules available No. of modules that must

be takenNo. of possible elective

modulesVocational Preparation and Guidance 11 8 3English and Communication 4 4 0

Mathematical Applications 4 4 0Vocational Specialism Students may take up to 4 elective modules in any of the vocational specialisms

that they are not being examined in.Introduction to InformationTechnology

2 2 0

Arts Education 9 2 7Social Education 6 6 0Modern Languages 2 2 Students may take

elective modules in otherlanguages

An Ghaeilge 2 2 0Sign Language All four modules may be taken by deaf students instead of Modern Language and

Gaeilge. Modules 1 & 2 may be taken as electives by hearing students.Leisure & Recreation 3 2 1Religious Education 4 0 4Science 4 0 4

ELECTIVE MODULES

Assessment3 Modes

Satisfactory completion of Modules 62 credits (31%)

7 Student tasks 70 credits (35%)

Final examinations 68 credits (34%)

Total 200 credits (100%)

Certificate awarded at three levels:

Pass 60-69 % (120 - 139 credits)

Merit (70-84 %) (140 - 169 credits)

Distinction (85-100 %) (170 - 200 credits)

Assessment ModulesRequirements1. 90% attendance

2. Evidence of completion of 4 key assignments for each module

Credit Modules of non-examination courses have a value of two

credits

Modules of courses which have a final examination have a value of one credit

Timing of assessment

At the end of each session (Approximately 11 modules per session)

English and Communications 12 creditsOral plus Written incorporating audio visual

Vocational Specialisms (2) 12 credits (each)Practical and Written

Languages (2) 6 credits (each)Oral plus Written incorporating aural

Social Education 10 creditsWritten incorporating audio

Mathematical Applications 10 credits Written (Research Topic Q.2 issued in advance)

Total 68 credits

Assessment Final Examinations

STUDENT TASKDefinition

A practical activity by which learning is applied to :Types of TasksThe development of a product

The investigation of an issue

The provision of a service

The staging of an event

Purpose

Vehicle for curriculum integration of as many courses as possible

Task Criteria

Substantial piece of work (10 hours activity per student excluding the report)

Individual task or group task (10 hours activity for each student)

Individual report on each task

Relevant

Doable within the time frame

Assessment Criteria for Task Report

Title

Statement of Aim

Action Plan

Research Activity Undertaken

Execution of the Task

Presentation and Analysis of Findings

Statement of Learning Outcomes

Evaluation of the Student’s own contribution

Integration Across the Curriculum

Assessment Tasks

Credits for Tasks

1 Voc Prep task 10 credits (5%)

2 Voc Ed tasks 10 credits each (5%)

1 General Ed task 10 credits (5%)

1 Personal Reflection task 10 credits (5%)

1 Contemporary Issue task 10 credits (5%)

1 Practical Achievement task 10 credits (5%)

Requirements

Evidence of task completion

Individual task report

Individual presentation of task at interview with external examiner

7 tasks in total

Timing of Tasks

Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4Vocational Preptask(10 credits)

ContemporaryIssue task(10 credits)

VocationalEducation task(10 credits)

VocationalEducation task(10 credits)

GeneralEducation task(10 credits)

PracticalAchievementtask(10 credits)

Personal Reflection Task ongoingleading to ReflectiveStatement 1

Personal Reflection Task ongoingleading to Reflective Statement 2(10 credits)

LCA Support

• Induction 1 Day Workshops

• Half Day Cluster Meetings

• Modular Courses

• School Visits (on request)

• Network Meetings

• Website

• Newsletter

LCA Office

• LCA Office, Clare Education Centre, Government Buildings, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

• Phone: 065-6845504 Fax: 065-6842930• Website: www.pdst.ie (click on Leaving

Certificate Applied tab). • Harry Freeman 0872908528• harryfreeman@pdst.ie

How LCA helped me

“I just feel with LCA you

get betterone on one teaching”

“it was my foundation and helped me become what I am today”

I really loved the 4

sessions of

work experience

“It taught me about hidden skills

and talents I had and it setme on the right career path”

“You also get to learn more

about your self and what you’re

capable of doing.”

“I think itmatures you a bit

more and it really

prepares you for when you leave school”

I decided to do LCA because I felt it would help me learn more about life

today. Suzanne

I wanted to do LCA because it was a more active course and was very different from the Traditional Leaving Certificate. Cathy

I felt that there were more opportunities in LCA for me and I liked the idea of continual assessment. Kimberly

What I liked about it was the fact that you got credits as you went along and I liked doing the tasks and assignments Danielle

I chose to do LCA because I enjoyed doing project work andindependent research. Tara

I loved the idea of doing projects and assignments in LCA so that’s why I chose todo it. Darren

I had heard that LCA was mainly basedon continuous assessment. That wasvery appealing to me Tanya

Why I chose LCA

Leaving Certificate Applied and the Local Community

Learning in Leaving Certificate Applied involves students in many out-of-school activities including:• Work Experience• Enterprise• Visits outside school• Investigations in the community• Working with community groups• Outings e.g. outdoor education etc.• Interviews• Surveys• Visitors etc.

Leaving Certificate Applied In-School Learning ExperiencesLearning in Leaving Certificate Applied involves

students in new and different learning experiences

in school including:• Group work/Discussion

• Brainstorming

• Oral Presentations

• Visitor to the classroom

• Role Play

• Questionnaires/Surveys/Displays/Exhibitions

FREEDOM LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED STUDENTS

RESPONSIBILTY

To engage in a different and new range of learning experiences both in and out of school

To take personal responsibility for their learning and to approach all activities in a mature, responsible fashion