Senior Cycle caters for students in the 15 to 18 year age group. During the final two years of Senior Cycle students take one of three programmes, each leading to a State Examination: the traditional Leaving Certificate (LC), the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) or the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA).
The Leaving Certificate programme offers students a broad and balanced education while allowing for some specialisation. Before entering Fifth Year, students are requested to complete a subject option form from which they select four subjects. These four selected options, as well as Core curriculum subjects of English, Irish and Mathematics, will be the subjects studied for the Leaving Certificate Exam. In addition, Religious Education, Physical Education, Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and Career Guidance is also studied.
All subjects are offered at two levels, ordinary and higher. Irish and Mathematics are available at foundation level also.
LCVP
LCVP is a Senior Cycle Programme of the Department of Education and Skills, designed to give a strong vocational dimension to the Leaving Certificate (established). The programme combines the virtues of academic study with a new and dynamic focus on self-directed learning, enterprise, work and the community. Students taking the LCVP curriculum have a unique opportunity to develop their interpersonal, vocational and technological skills. These skills are equally relevant to the needs of of those preparing for further education, seeking employment or planning to commence their own business sometime in the future.
Programme Requirements for LCVP students:
- At least five Leaving Certificate subjects, one of which must be Irish plus the Link Modules
- Two of the above subjects must be selected from one of the designated Vocational Subject Groupings
- Link Modules: Preparation for the World of Work and Enterprise Education ( in addition to Five subjects)
- A recognised course in a Modern European Language other than Irish or English
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%).
