Senior Cycle
Leaving Certificate | Leaving Certificate Applied | Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme | Transition Year
The Traditional Leaving Certificate
Core Curriculum
*The Core Curriculum consists of
English, Irish and Maths for examination. (Students also take Religion,
and P.E. as core subjects but not for examination. Each student is also
offered a course in I.T.)
In Mounthawk we offer subjects at
Leaving Certificate under the following headings:
Science
- Physics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Maths*
- Applied Maths.
Business
- Accounting
- Economics
- Business
Applied Science
- Design Communication Graphics
- Home Economics (Social and Scientific)
- Engineering,
- Construction Studies
Social Studies
- History
- Geography
- Art
- Music
- Religion (as exam subject)
Languages
- Irish*
- English*
- French
- German
- Spanish
There is an open choice of subjects for the Leaving
Certificate. However, in general, students are recommended to take subjects
that they have studied in the Junior Certificate.
Leaving Certificate Applied
Course Rationale
The Leaving Certificate Applied is a distinct, self-contained
two-year Leaving Certificate.
It 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 - Vocational Preparation, Vocational Education and General Education - which are inter-related and interdependent.
Participants are required to take courses in each of the following areas:
Vocational Preparation
Vocational Preparation & Guidance
English and Communication
Vocational Education
Vocational Specialism - 2 courses
Mathematical Applications
Introduction to Information & Communication
Technology
General Education
Social Education
Gaeilge
Modern European Language
Arts Education (Drama, Music, Visual Art)
Leisure and Recreation
Elective Module
With regard to the vocational specialism, the list of options is as follows:
Childcare/Community Care
Graphics and Construction Studies
Craft and Design
Engineering
Information and Communication Technology
Hair and Beaut
With regard to the elective module students may take a subject not already chosen as a specialism.
Assessment and Certification
A. Module Completion
At the end of each Session the student will be credited on satisfactory completion of the appropriate modules. 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. Where absence is due to illness, the student should supply a medical certificate to the school authorities.
B. Student Tasks
As part of the Leaving Certificate Applied students undertake a number of tasks, which are set and examined over the two years of the programme. These tasks, which are examined by the Department of Education and Science, are practical activities, which allow students, individually or in teams, to apply classroom experience to real-life situations.
C. External Examinations
At the end of Year 2 participants will take written examinations in the following areas:
English and Communication
Vocational Specialisms (2)
Mathematical Applications
Gaeilge
Modern European Language
Social Education
A participant may accumulate a maximum of 200 credits. When the credits are compiled final results are given as Pass, Merit or distinction.
Who accepts Leaving Certificate Applied
Post Leaving Courses
FAS Apprenticeships
Fáilte Ireland
Gardai
Department of Local Government (where 5 Ds in the traditional Leaving Certificate is a requirement
AIB Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank, Citybank, Irish Life.
IBEC
ESB apprenticeships
Vocational Subject Groupings
Specialist Groupings
1. Construction Studies or Design Communication Graphics or Engineering
(any two)
2. Physics and Construction Studies or Engineering
3. Home Economics and Biology
4. Home Economics and Art
5. Accounting or Business or Economics ( any two )
6. Physics and Chemistry
7. Biology and Physics or Chemistry or Physical Chemistry (combined
subject)
Service Groupings
8. Construction Studies and Business or Accounting or Economics.
9. Home Econ. and Business or Accounting or Econ.
10. Art and Business or Accounting or Economics
11. Music and Business or Accounting or Economics
12. Engineering and Business or Accounting or Economics
These are the possible subject groupings available
in Mounthawk from the official list for 2007-8. Should there be any
changes, they will be detailed at the Information Night Meeting.
N.B. All students will take English and Maths.
Understanding the Course
What does 'Vocational' mean and why do a Leaving Certificate
with a Vocational emphasis?
For many years the traditional Leaving Certificate course was criticised
for its overly academic focus. The L.C.V.P. programme seeks to redress
this by creating links between study and the world of work. This linking
is done through the added modules which are designed to focus attention
on enterprise and preparation for work.
The word 'Vocational' is intended to emphasise the
goal of the course which is to strengthen the sense of 'direction' in
life that a students will gain through the course. By engaging in the
Link Modules, it is intended that a pupil will gain a better sense of
the world of work, a clearer sense of direction in what he/she may wish
to do.
Furthermore, the course seeks to encourage the development
of skills: interview techniques, technology skills etc. and the personal
qualities such as self-directed learning that will empower students
to realise their potential either in college or in the world of work.
The outline of the link modules will show how this
is done.
The Link Modules
Link Module 1 - Preparation for the World of Work
Students will research and investigate local employment opportunities,
develop job seeking skills such as letter writing, C. V. presentation,
interview techniques, gain valuable practical experience of the world
of work, interview and work shadow a person in a career area that interests
them.
Link Module 2 - Enterprise Education
Students will be involved in organising visits to local business and
community enterprises; meet and interview enterprising people on - site
and in the classroom; plan and undertake interesting activities that
will build self-confidence, creativity, initiative and develop teamwork,
communication and computer skills.
Teaching and Learning
The use of active teaching and learning methodologies
is encouraged across the LCVP curriculum. The Link Modules encourage
students to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired through
their Vocational Subjects and in other areas of their Leaving Certificate.
The experiences of learning are developed in class through a variety
of techniques: small group work, case studies, discussion, role-play
and project work.
Course Assessment
The 7 subjects are assessed in the traditional manner through the Leaving
Cert exam.
Assessment of the Link Modules
Portfolio of Coureswork : (assembled over 2 years) 60%
Written Examination: 40%
Certification
Students receive the same certification as other Leaving Cert students
but their Certificate includes an additional statement of the results
of the Link Modules
The Link modules are recognised in terms of points
by all the Institutes of Technology and all of the Universities. As
of this year the same rates of Points apply across all sectors.
What type of student
will the course suit best?
A student who intends going to University or I.T.
A student who will benefit more from term/project work which is built
up over a period of time as distinct from depending on terminal exam.
A student who has the consistency to work at project work
A student who make take a few subjects at ordinary level.
Transition Year
The Transition Year programme is
intended to facilitate the integrated development of the spiritual,
intellectual, emotional, physical, social and vocational capacities
of each individual student through a structured learning experience.
The general aim of the Transition Year is the preparation of young people
for their roles as autonomous, participative and responsible members
of society. The programme, therefore, aims to provide young people with
the skills and support necessary to develop their own individual talents,
aptitudes and abilities with regard to future educational and/or vocational
preparation.
Emphasis is placed on
(a) Education for maturity, and
spiritual and personal development, including
social awareness and increased social competence.
(b) The promotion of general, technical
and academic skills with an emphasis
on self-directed learning.
(c) Education through experience
of working life as a basis for personal
development and maturity.
Aims of
Programme
(a) To provide an opportunity for
all students to mature intellectually, socially,
physically and spiritually.
(b) To consolidate and develop the
learning experience of the student which has taken place during the
Junior Cycle.
(c) To develop study habits more
suited to Senior Cycle and Third Level
and to encourage the development of self-directed learning in all students
so as to enable them to achieve at 3rd Level.
(d) To foster a growing sense of
responsibility in the student for his/her
own life so that he/she may become a responsible socially conscious
citizen, able to cope successfully with the demands of society and of
life.
(e) To encourage students to value
inter-personal relationships and to
inculcate this through team-work and project work.
(f) To introduce the student actively
to the world of work so that they will
learn to work with others and develop a good working relationship
with others and learn to engage in dialogue with others in a respectful
way.
Main Components
of Programme
Academic
Studies
Aspects of the following subject areas are included:
Gaeilge, English, Mathematics, French, Spanish, German, History, Geography,
Science (including modules of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Applied
Maths), Business Studies (including modules of Economics, Accounting
and Business), Home Economics, Metalwork, Woodwork and Psychology.
Study, homework and regular evaluation are required. In the area of
languages, the emphasis is on literacy and fluency, with elements of
literature which are not prescribed for the Leaving Certificate programme.
General
Education
Modules are also provided in Music, Art, Drama, Dance, Social and Health
Education, Religion, Personal Development, Mini-Company, Physical Education
and Tourism Awareness, a Law Module, an Environment Module, sign language,
GAA Coaching course, Jananese and Outdoor Education.
Students have opportunities in I.T. with the provision of the 'Mouse'
Computer Course.
Careers
Education
This section includes Work Shadowing one day each week for 13/14 weeks.
During this period, students will spend 3/4 days in each of 4 workplaces
where they will shadow a member of some particular profession or workforce.
Students also have one class period of Guidance each week during which
they receive a comprehensive preparation for the world of work. This
will include interview preparation, compiling a C.V., writing letters,
study skills and an overview of Third Level, subject choices for Fifth
Year and careers information.
Institute of Technology Tralee - "Taster Courses" during which
each student will experience two hours, on five consecutive weeks, of
Business, Chemistry, Electronics, CAD and Instrumentation.
Food Safety Course: This course,
which is joint funded by the European Commission and the Food Safety
Promotion Board, aims to provide students with training in the basic
principles of food hygiene and covers the risks of food poisoning, how
food poisoning can be prevented and basic hygiene practices.
The course consists of 10 x 80 min sessions and a terminal exam. Successful
candidates are awarded a certificate by the Environmental Health Officers
Association.
Activities
Students are encouraged to enter
in a wide range of competitions, from Leadership and Community Involvement
awards, to the Young Social Innovators Awards, and the Gaisce Awards
(Bronze Medallion). There is also a range of competitions from web design
to magazine design, film making and student drama. Other activities
and projects include Builda Bank, Special Olympics, Disability Theatre,
Creative Writing, Dance and a Fashion Show.
The year begins with a team Building
day in Cappanalea. Tours and outings are organised on a regular basis
for instance to the University of Limerick Activity Centre in Killaloe,
the cinema, field study trips, sports events, hill walks, museums, the
UCD Conway Institute, the Young Scientists Exhibition, the Cork Circuit
Court and the Gaeltacht.
There is an optional School Tour
in the second term - destinations vary from year to year. Students participate
in the Rosemary Smith Driving Course.
There is an End of Year ceremony
in Síamsa Tíre at which certificates and awards are presented.
The guest speaker on the night is somebody whose involvement in the
business world or in public life befits a Transition Year function.
A magazine produced by the students is also available on the night.
The students in their art, woodwork and metalwork classes make all sets
and scenery required for the production - highlighting the inter-disciplinary
nature of the Transition Year Course.
