The Leaving Certificate Applied is a distinct, self-contained two-year Leaving Certificate Programme aimed at preparing students for adult and working life. The Leaving Certificate Applied is best suited for the students who are not adequately catered for by other Leaving Certificate programmes and who have not found traditional forms of assessment to be suited to their styles of learning. The programme emphasise forms of achievement and excellence, which the established Leaving Certificate has not recognised in the past. The programme is structured around three main elements: Vocational Preparation, Vocational Education and General Education.
The Programme here in O’Connell Secondary School offers our students specific opportunity to prepare for the world of work and to progress to further education and training. The rationale behind The Leaving Certificate Applied is that the talents of all students are recognised-the programme is responsive to the aptitudes, abilities, needs and interests of the students. The programme also promotes communication and decision making skills and affords the students the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills to the solution of real problems. Consequently, the students as a result of their involvement in the Leaving Certificate Applied are given the opportunity to develop in terms of responsibility and self-esteem.
Key underlying Principles:
- Subject integration across the curriculum
- Teamwork
- Basic skills
- Active teaching & learning methodologies
- Reflecting
- Links with the community.
Course Content
The Leaving Certificate Applied Programme is a two-year Certificate programme consisting of a range of courses, structured on a modular basis for which credits are awarded. A module is of thirty hours duration. To facilitate the structure of the modules the programme is broken down into four sessions. One module is usually completed within a session in each course area.
Examination & Assessment
A range of Key Assignments and Student Tasks are completed within the two years of Senior Cycle. The Terminal Examination requires students to take seven Leaving certificate Examinations in the following areas:
- English & Communication
- Mathematical Applications
- Social Education
- Languages (2): Gaeilge – Year 1 / Modern Languages – Year
- Vocational Specialisms (2): Office Administration and Customer Care (OACC) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)