Senior Cycle

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The Leaving Certificate (Traditional)
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme - LCVP
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme - LCA

The Leaving Certificate (Traditional)
allows students to sit seven subjects for examination.

- Three Core Subjects: Gaeilge, Maths & English
- One Modern Language
- Option Subjects (Students choose Two of the following)
 

All subjects are taken at either Higher or Ordinary Level.
Irish & Math may be taken at Foundation level.

In Third Year the following process allows students and parents to make informed choices about Senior Cycle:

- Information Evening in September-October on Study Skills and Course
  Choices available at Senior Cycle.

- DATs (Aptitude Testing) in December – Early Spring Term.

- Information Evening on Transition Year and other Senior Cycle Options and Subjects. Spring Term

- Interviews for Transition Year Programme – Spring Term

- Career Interest Inventory. – Late Spring Term

- Students are informed of their Options/Programme in - May

- A comprehensive booklet entitled "Choosing the Right Option at Senior Cycle" is made available to all Third Year students and parents in February of Third year.

Subject to sufficient demand and resources, Management reserves the right to determine on an annual basis the range and level of subjects.
 

Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme - LCVP

This programme was introduced to the Senior Cycle Curriculum in 1989 in response to an identified need for an enhancement of curriculum provision. Following a review of the Senior Cycle curriculum the LCVP was modified and expanded in 1994. The revised Programme enabled the participation of a large number of students with a wide range of aptitude and ability than the original LCVP permitted.

LCVP Rationale:

The LCVP subscribes to an educational approach, which emphasises active learning, cross-curricular and interdisciplinary activities, and the acquisition of core skills with the ultimate aim of developing autonomous, adaptable, and lifelong learners. The Programme aims to develop key vocational skills, which enable students:

• To be innovative and enterprising
• To communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively
• To take greater responsibility for their own learning
• To learn from their experiences
• To work as members of a team or group
• To solve problems and make decisions
• To adapt and cope with changing circumstances

LCVP Structure & Content:

Each student must take as the core elements of the LCVP

• Two Leaving Certificate subjects from one of the two sets of Vocational Subjects Groupings: (e.g. Business Studies & Home Economics)
• A course in a modern European Language: (French, German, Spanish).
• Two link Modules
• Irish at Leaving Certificate
• Students must take at least five Leaving Certificate subjects.

The Two Mandatory Link Modules are:

• Preparation for Work/Work Experience
• Enterprise Education

The purpose of the two links modules is to foster in young people a spirit of enterprise, adaptability and initiative and to develop communication, interpersonal, vocational and technological skills and an experience of the world of work.

Activities & Skills

Students are afforded the following experiences

• Involvement in Enterprise activities
• Working in teams on projects
• Engagement in interdisciplinary projects, which facilitate learning across the curriculum
• Organising visits of people from the world of business, industry and community services to the school and study visits to places of work
• Participation in work placement, work shadowing or work simulation.
• Access to, and use of, information technology and audio-visual resources.
   

Assessment & Certification

The Leaving Certificate Examination Vocational Programme is a range of skill areas within the Link Modules by the National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA) through two modes – a written examination and a portfolio of coursework. Furthermore LCVP is recognised by all Third Level Institutions in the following way: Distinction 70 Points, Merit 50 Points and Pass 30 Points.
 

Leaving Certificate Applied Programme - LCA

The Leaving Certificate Applied is a distinct, self-contained two-year Leaving Certificate Programme aimed at preparing students for adult and working life. The Leaving Certificate Applied is best suited for the students who are not adequately catered for by other Leaving Certificate programmes and who have not found traditional forms of assessment to be suited to their styles of learning. The programme emphasises forms of achievement and excellence, which the established Leaving Certificate has not recognised in the past. The programme is structured around three elements: Vocational Preparation, Vocational Education and General Education.

The Programme here in Castleknock Community College offers our students specific opportunity to prepare for the world of work and to progress to further education and training. The rationale behind The Leaving Certificate Applied is that the talents of all students are recognised. The programme is responsive to the aptitudes, abilities, needs and interests of the students. The programme also promotes communication and decision making skills and affords the students the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills to the solution of real problems. Consequently, the students as a result of their involvement in the Leaving Certificate Applied. are given the opportunity to develop in terms of responsibility and self-esteem.

Key underlying Principles:

• Subject integration across the curriculum
• Teamwork
• Basic Skills
• Active teaching & Learning Methodologies
• Reflection
• Links with the Community.

Course Content:

The Leaving Certificate Applied Programme is a two-year certificate programme consisting of a range of courses, structured on a modular basis for which credits are awarded. A module is of thirty hours duration. To facilitate the structure of the modules the programme is broken down into four sessions. One module is usually completed within a session in each course area.

Examination & Assessment:

A range of Key Assignments and Student Tasks are completed within the two years of Senior Cycle. The terminal examination requires students to take seven Leaving certificate examinations in
the following areas:

- English & Communication
- Mathematical Applications
- Social Education
- Languages (2)
- Vocational Specialisms (2)

Subject to sufficient demand and resources, Management reserves the right to determine on an annual basis the feasibility of providing the LCA Programme.

Class Size & Level

The maximum class size will not exceed 30 pupils. In classes with a practical module, the maximum number will not exceed 24 pupils. However the maximum number of students for Home Economics is 20 (twenty).

All subjects are available at the appropriate level: Higher and Ordinary.
Foundation Level is available to students in Gaeilge and Maths.

Castleknock Community College follows the curricular programmes set down by the Department of Education and Science which may be amended from time to time in accordance with the Education Act 1998 (Sections 9 & 30)

Class Structure

Strict streaming of classes has been found to create very negative attitudes and to lower self-esteem. In keeping with the College Mission Statement which seeks to promote a caring and supportive environment our system promotes and encourages student self-confidence, classes are placed in mixed ability groups in first year.

The opportunity for students to prepare for examination subjects at various levels is achieved by setting. This involves timetabling two or more classes for a particular subject at the same time. Thus it is possible for a student to undertake the Junior Certificate course in different subjects at different levels. For example, a student might wish to take Junior Certificate English at Higher level. The same student might choose to take maths at Ordinary level. This system allows for flexibility so that students’ needs are met, and yet it avoids the stigmatisation, which can go hand in hand with a system of strict streaming. The above system of setting will operate from the end of first year and particularly with third year and senior cycle. Physical education is a timetabled subject on the curriculum and all students are expected to participate. We have a Sports’ Hall, which provides a great facility for the promotion and development of sports and leisure activities. Other sports, games, inter-school competitions, and extra-curricular activities are organised in part within the Physical Education Programme, as co-ordinated by the P.E. Department, but also and in the main on a voluntary basis, with the co-operation of teachers and parents.

At Castleknock Community College all our students are encouraged to involve themselves in at least one extra-curricular activity. It is exciting to think that since 1995 a wide range of clubs and activities
have been established to cater for all students in the College. Activities are organised to cater for boys and girls. The availability of such a wide variety of activities is a credit to the generosity of our staff. We hope that there is something for every student.

Extra Curricular Activities

Activities organised to date include:

The support and involvement of parents will always be encouraged and welcomed.