LCVP

Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme

St. Brendan’s College offers LCVP to all students who are pursuing the Leaving Certificate Established. As such it is another subject so the typical Leaving Cert. student takes seven Leaving Cert. subjects plus the Link Modules in LCVP. 

 LCVP is an intervention designed to enhance the vocational dimension of the Leaving Certificate (established). The LCVP combines the academic strengths of the Leaving Certificate (established) with a new and dynamic focus on self– directed learning, innovation and enterprise. This two-year programme is part of an expanded provision that aims to cater for the diversity of participants’ needs at senior cycle.

The primary goal of the LCVP is to prepare young people for adult life by ensuring that they are educated in the broadest sense, with an ability to cope and thrive in an environment of rapid change. Participants in the programme are encouraged to develop skills and competencies fundamental to both academic and vocational success.

Throughout the programme students are encouraged to:

• Be innovative and enterprising
• Take responsibility for their own learning
• Adapt to changing circumstances
• Evaluate data and devise solutions to problems
• Communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively
• Work with others as part of a team
• Investigate and plan career options
• Use information and communications technologies
• Investigate local businesses and community enterprises
• Learn from their experiences

These skills and qualities are equally relevant to the needs of those preparing for further education, seeking employment, or planning to start their own business.

Moreover, they are also valuable with regards promoting personal development and a sense of community spirit within participants: LCVP students in St. Brendan’s have raised more than €25,000 for local charities over the last 3 years.

The strong vocational focus of the LCVP is achieved by arranging Leaving Certificate subjects into Vocational Subject Groupings (VSGs) and through the provision of additional courses of study in work preparation and enterprise known as the Link Modules.

Programme Requirements

• At least five Leaving Certificate subjects, one of which must be Irish
• Two Link Modules: Preparation for the World of Work and Enterprise Education

The Link Modules

Link Module I – Preparation for the World of Work

Students will research and investigate local employment opportunities, develop job seeking skills such as letter writing, CV 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 II – 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 and initiative and develop teamwork, communication and computer skills.

Information and Communications Technology

Students taking the LCVP will have an opportunity to develop and apply their IT skills. Students should also have an opportunity to use audio-visual equipment and computer presentation packages for recording and presentation purposes. During the course of the programme students will develop skills to:

• Enter, edit, store, retrieve and print information
• Word process CVs, letters, reports and create illustrated documents
• Send and receive e–mail messages
• Access and use relevant information from CDs and the Internet

Assessment of the Link Modules

LCVP students follow the same subject syllabi and are assessed in the same way as their peers in the

Leaving Certificate. For the Link Modules they are assessed by Written Examination (40%) and by Portfolio of Coursework (60%).

The structure of the Written Examination is as follows:

• Section A Audio Visual Presentation
• Section B Case Study (received in advance by students)
• Section C General Questions (4 out of 6)

The Portfolio of Coursework accounts for 60% of total marks. Students assemble the portfolio over the two years of the programme and it is assessed at the end of the final year of the Leaving Certificate.

Recorded Interview/Presentation Report on My Own Place      

Certification

 LCVP students receive the same certificate as other Leaving Certificate students but their Certificate includes an additional statement of the results of the Link Modules.

Grades for the Link Modules are as follows:

The Link Modules are recognised for points purposes by Technological Universities and the Universities. The points are allocated as follows: