About LCA
The Leaving Certificate Applied is a distinct, self-contained two-year programme aimed at preparing students for adult and working life. The programme puts an emphasis on forms of achievement and excellence, which the established Leaving Certificate has not recognised in the past.
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.
Each course consists of a number of modules. A module generally represents a half-year’s work and there is provision for some choice of modules. Four elective modules must be chosen from course areas where extra modules are available.
The modules completed in St. Mary’s include:
- English and Communication
- Social Concern
- Child Care/ Community Care
- Mathematics Applications
- French
- Religion
- Information and Communications Technology
- Craft and Design
- Active Leisure Studies
- Hotel Catering and Tourism
- Work Experience
- Vocational Preparation and Guidance
Students are also given a class in video and camera productions which is separate to the modules above.
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.
For more information on Leaving Certificate Applied, visit http://lca.slss.ie/