Leaving Certifucate Applied (LCA)

What is the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme?

The Leaving Certificate Applied is a distinct, self-contained Leaving Certificate programme. 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 other two Leaving Certificate programmes (the Leaving Certificate established programme and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme/LCVP). The Leaving Certificate Applied is structured around three main elements-Vocational Preparation, Vocational Education and General Education-which are inter-related and independent. This programme is characterised by educational experiences of an active, practical and student-centred nature.

The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) is a two-year Leaving, available to students who wish to follow a practical or vocationally orientated programme. The word ‘applied’ is used because the programme is designed to allow the students to apply the learning and experiences they gain over the two years of the programme to practical educational tasks at school, in the workplace and in the wider community.

LCA stands for Leaving Certificate Applied. It is a two-year programme aimed at preparing students for adult and working life. It is marked differently to the traditional Leaving Certificate established programme but still is a gateway to third level education.

What is different about the Leaving Certificate Applied?

LCA is different in a number of ways:

• It is a distinct and self-contained programme made up of a number of courses.
• It is a practical programme that makes use of active and student centred learning methodologies.
• It includes seven Student Tasks that bring together learning experiences that the students have gained form the courses they have taken.
• It uses a unique system of assessment. The students’ work is assessed over the two years of the programme and they gain credits as they go along. Practical interviews and terminal written papers are among the different forms of assessment used. The students’ communication, problem solving and practical skills are also assessed.

Programme Requirements:

The LCA programme 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 sessions, September to January and February to June, to facilitate the modular structure of the course. A module within a given course is usually completed within a session. Over the two-year programme the participants will complete 44 modules.

LCA subjects in Coláiste Eoin:

NOTE: Up to 4 Work Experience placements of one day per week (for the entire Session, Sept – Jan & Feb- June) must be completed over the two years.

How are students awarded Credits?

As students complete their LCA course they collect credits. It is possible to collect a total of 200 credits. A maximum of 62 credits are awarded for completing the required courses, 70 credits for the seven Student Tasks completed over the two years, and 68 credits for the examinations at the end of Year 2. Students who accumulate fewer than 60 credits will receive a Record of Experience.

Credits are marks given to students after the completion of Key Assignments. A Key Assignment is like a piece of homework each student must complete in each module or course. Each module has 4 Key Assignments that must be completed during each session over the two-year programme. For instance, Religion has a total of 16 Key Assignments to be completed over two years. Each module is awarded 1 or 2 credits depending on whether there is a terminal written exam.

NOTE: It is important to note that a student must complete all Key Assignments and have 90% attendance to pass each module in the various subjects on offer.

The LCA is awarded at three levels:

Participant/student achievement is recorded in three modes:

A. Module Completion:

• At the end of each session the participant will be credited on satisfactory completion of the appropriate modules. In order to be awarded credit students must:
• Attend the classes and the out-of-school activities related to the modules and
• Complete the key assignments related to the module.
• No ranking of performance will be involved. As mentioned already, a minimum of 90% attendance is required. The school must verify where there is absence due to exceptional circumstances. It is very important that LCA students produce a valid reason e.g. a Sick Cert from a doctor.

B. Student Tasks:

• Seven Student Tasks to be completed over the two years.

C. External Examinations:

• At the end of Year 2 students will take final examinations in the following areas:
• English and Communications
• Vocational Specialisms (2)-Engineering and Hotel, Catering and Tourism
• Mathematical Applications
• Languages (2)-Irish is assessed at the end of Year 1 and French at the end of Year 2.
• Social Education

What are student Tasks?

Each participant is required to complete seven Student Tasks over the two years. Tasks are like big projects with each task worth 10 credits. The Student Task is a practical activity and/or process of reflection through which the student integrates and applies learning experiences gained undertaking the LCA programme to some or all of the following:

• The development of a product
• The investigation of an issue
• The performance of an action
• The provision of a service
• The staging of an event
• Personal reflection

What are the seven Student Tasks?

Summary of the seven Students Tasks:

Allocation of Credits: