1. Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Leaving Certificate Applied 2018/2019
Tuesday March 13th
LCA Co-ordinator: Carmel Crowley

2. Who would benefit from the Programme?
The Leaving Certificate Applied is intended to meet the needs of those students who are not adequately catered for by other Leaving Certificate programmes or who choose not to opt for such programmes.
Students who would take all ordinary level subjects at Leaving Cert. aspiring to a grade D – new system =O6.
Students who find difficulty with learning by rote rather than learning by doing.
Students who have difficulty with essay type answers.
Students with poor attention span and retention skills.

3. What is Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA)?
The Leaving Certificate Applied is a distinct, self-contained two-year programme
Aimed at preparing students for adult and working life.
Continuous assessment over the 2 years
The programme puts an emphasis on forms of achievement and excellence, which the established Leaving Certificate has not recognised in the past.

4. Rationale for LCA
Prepares learners for the demanding transition to adult and working life.
Recognises talents of all learners - programme responsive to aptitudes, abilities, needs and interests.
Provides opportunity to develop in terms of responsibility, self-esteem and self-knowledge.
Develops communication and decision making skills.
Helps learners achieve a more independent and enterprising approach to learning and to life.

5. MORE reasons to choose LCA…
What’s different about The Leaving Certificate Applied is that students are examined on their work as they go along. The programme is divided into half year blocks called ‘sessions’ of which there are four over the two year programme.
Students are assessed on their work in January and May of each year when a session ends
90% attendance is required for each session otherwise credits are lost by students.

6. Why choose LCA?
The advantage of Leaving Certificate Applied is that it focuses on the talents of each individual student and helps students apply what they learn in the real world.
The two-year programme consists of four half-year blocks called Sessions and achievements are credited in each of these Sessions.
LCA1: Sept- Jan= session 1
LCA1: Feb- June= Session 2
LCA2: Sept- Jan= Session 3
LCA2: Feb- June= Session 4

7. LCA V’S Traditional LC LCA Traditional LC
Work Experience one day a week. 4 placements in 2 yrs.
Practical/ project work
Continuous assessment (Tasks/Key assignments)
Small class sizes more one to one tuition
Irish/French completed in one year
LCVP work experience one week in 5th year only
Academic/points orientated
LC exam counts for majority of marks
Generally bigger classes
Irish compulsory for 2 years

8. Support for the LCA student in Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine
School Management
LCA
Co-ordinator
Learning Support
Career Guidance

9. Vocational Preparation
We offer our LCA students a variety of subjects under the following different headings…
Vocational Preparation
English and Communications
Job Search
Guidance (Vocational Preparation and Guidance)
Vocational Education
Mathematical Applications
Information and Communications Technology (I.C.T.)
Hotel, Catering and Tourism
Engineering
General Education
Arts Education.
**Irish (Year 1)/ French (Year 2)
Social Education
Leisure and Recreation
Science
**students can retain exemptions from Irish

10. Do LCA students receive a Leaving Certificate?
Yes. Students who successfully complete the programme will receive a Leaving Certificate from the State Examinations Commission.
THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE APPLIED ASSESSMENT TAKES PLACE OVER THE TWO YEARS UNDER THREE HEADINGS:
1. Satisfactory Completion of Modules
2. Performance of Student Tasks
3. Performance in the Terminal Examinations. 
All credits awarded will be recorded on the Leaving Certificate Applied parchment.

11. “Record of Experience”.
LCA Certification
Certificate awarded at 3 levels
Pass
credits
60-69%
Merit
credits
70-84%
Distinction
credits
85-100%
Students who acquire less than 120 credits or who leave the programme early will receive a
“Record of Experience”.

12. Further & Higher Education
Opening up New Options
The Leaving Certificate Applied Route Map
Leaving Certificate Applied
(QQI Level 4)
Vocational Preparation
Vocational Education
General Education
Further Education
Post Leaving
Certificate
Course
(QQI Level 5 & 6)
Further & Higher Education
(QQI Levels 6- 10)
Careers
SOLAS
Apprenticeships