Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) For many students, the LCA has become an attractive alternative to the established Leaving Certificate, writes Gráinne Faller
Nineteen-year-old Julie Brady knows where she's going in life. This September, she'll start her second year of a childcare course in Sallynoggin College. Her ambition is to work as a childminder in a crèche for a while before setting up on her own.
A few years ago, however, her story was very different. Brady explains: "The Junior Cert didn't suit me at all. I hated exams. I'd study for them, but then I'd always panic and just go blank." This damaged her self-esteem.
"I never put my hand up to say anything in class. I didn't have the confidence," she says.
Her school had been providing the Leaving Cert Applied (LCA) for a number of years. The practical nature of the programme interested Julie, but it was the method of assessment that really convinced her. A series of projects and tasks spread throughout two years means that end-of-year exams are less pressurised.
This year, the tenth group of students will graduate from the LCA programme. More than 30,000 people have now passed through the system. It is an option for students who decide that the traditional Leaving Cert doesn't cater for their needs. Some may wish to go straight into work after school.
The LCA provides skills that will help them in that respect. Other students find that academic subjects and exams don't suit them and the more practical nature of the LCA subjects can prove a better fit.
While the LCA is not available in every school, it is expanding year on year and is now on offer in 370 schools and centres around the country.
The LCA is different from the regular Leaving Cert in its structure and methods of assessment. The two years are broken down into four half-year blocks known as sessions. Subjects range from English and communications and community care, to science, engineering and dance. Career guidance and general life skills are also strong features.
Students are awarded credits for achievements and tasks at the end of each session and the final grade that they receive depends on the number of credits gained throughout the programme. There is a final exam that accounts for approximately one-third of the overall marks.
Many students have jobs, further training or education arranged before completing the final exam. Often, these opportunities come about through work experience, which is a strong feature of the LCA. Students complete four separate work experience modules throughout the two years.
"I had always wanted to be a childminder, but people put me off it," says Brady. "It wasn't until I did my work experience in a crèche that I realised that this was definitely for me."
LCA co-ordinators speak of the change that comes about when students who have been demoralised within the system suddenly realise that they can be successful and achieve good marks.
Sandra Joyce, LCA co-ordinator in Rockford Manor Secondary school, says: "Many of our LCA students would have had a poor experience of school and very low self-esteem as a result. Within six months, they do their first tasks and get their first results. I think it's then they realise, 'I can really do this.'"
Geraldine Walton, LCA co-ordinator in Coláiste Iosagáin, Portarlington, Co Laois agrees. "The students have huge potential . . . but up until Junior Cert, many of them are in a system that suits others . . . The LCA is a beautifully designed programme, it starts slowly and builds throughout the two years as the students' confidence increases."
The programme made a difference to Julie Brady. "I'm much more outgoing and confident now," she says.
"I flew through the computer part of the college course because we had done so much on computers during the two years. I wouldn't be the person I am now if I hadn't done the LCA."
James Murphy did the LCA in 1999. After graduating from New Ross Vocational College, he embarked on a very interesting career.
"Racing was my priority after the Junior Cert. If I had to be doing seven honours subjects in the Leaving Cert I think I would have done very poorly. At that stage I was racing go-karts semi-professionally and I was never going to be a barrister or an accountant. I was more into carpentry and metalwork than the traditional academic subjects anyway.
"The LCA allowed me to pursue my ambition as a driver. I won two Irish go-karting titles while I was studying the LCA and towards the end I was doing a lot of driving and physical training as well. I'm a bit of a Roy Keane character in that in everything I do, I have to give 110 per cent.
"I suppose my life went a bit differently with the driving. I moved to the UK after school and was racing there until 2003. Then I moved to Miami and raced in the US before moving back to the UK. I was racing for Porsche UK all over Europe last year and finished third in Europe overall. I kind of retired this year and I'm managing a car dealership back here in New Ross," he says.
