AGENDA• INTRODUCTION

• Option 1– Transition Year presented by Ms Phyl Hughes

• Option 2 – Leaving Cert Established presented by Ms Anne Lillis

• Option Three – Leaving Cert Applied presented by Ms Sara Watson

• Questions & Answers

Junior Cert Exam June 2011

September 2011

Transition Year

Leaving Cert

Leaving Cert Established

Leaving Cert Applied

Transition Year 2011 – 2012

Followed by

Leaving Cert Established

Or

Leaving Cert Applied

Final Exam – June 2014

Back Ground to Transition Year

• Introduced in 1973

• 163 Schools by 1993

• Mainstreamed in 1994

545 Schools in 2009/2010

• Approximately 28,500 students

• Approximately 75% of all Post Primary School

•This is the path followed by most students in St. Louis.

•Designed to bridge the gap between Junior and Senior

cycles in the school

•Every encouragement is given to students to become

involved in a wide range of activities, which involve

teamwork and personal initiative

•Opportunity to stand back from the exam-focused study

and revision in third year and experience a new style of

self-directed learning

There are opportunities to sample subjects during

Fourth Year.

•New skills are acquired in computers, key - board skills

and a wide range of extra-curricular activities, like

work experience.

•Transition Year students make their final choice of

Leaving Cert subjects at the end of Fourth Year

•Attendance is checked and monitored in the usual

way

•Annual Reports are sent home – this assessment

report reflects the type of learning undertaken in

Transition Year and comments on academic

progress, punctuality, attendance, conduct and

application to work.

•Homework is assigned, with an emphasis on

project and group work as well as individual

aspirations.

•Students are encouraged to research, assess,

process and present information – skills that are

undoubtedly needed to participate fully in the

knowledge rich society that we live in now.

Core Subjects (all students)

•English•Irish•Maths•Home Economics•Religion

Additional Subjects•Computers•Keyboard Skills•P.E.

Optional Subjects (choose 4)•Accounting•Art•Biology•Business•French•Geography•German•History•Music•Spanish•Physics & Chemistry

Transition Year students must attend class between 9.06am and 3.42pm each day. The timetable includes core subjects,

additional subjects, optional subject choices and module choices/guest speakers.

•Cookery•ECDL•Aerobics•Photography•Swimming•Art•Ceilí Dancing•Modern Dancing•Ballroom Dancing•Log on, Learn•Chinese•Media•BT Young Scientist•European Studies

Modules and invited Guest Speakers play a significant part of the Transition Year Programme

Monday 1.55pm – 3.42pm & Wednesday 9.40am – 12.30pm

•Choir/CD Recording•Baby Care•Pre-School Care•Self Defence•Yoga/Pilates•Good Grooming•Costume Design•Set Design•School Web Site•School Newsletter•Debating/Public Speaking•Textiles•Social Awareness

Example of 2010 – 2011 ModulesSafe SocialisingStress ManagementLifeAutismSports DisabilityCoping SkillsDepression Domestic ViolenceHomelessnessGaisceJohn Paul II AwardsSamaritansGROW (Mental Health)

Guest Speakers

Work Experience:• Presently 1 week• Students select Placement• Supervised

Also on offer during Transition Year:

Community InvolvementCharity fundraising for•Down Syndrome •Holly Days•Daisy Days •Meningitis •St. Vincent de Paul•Monaghan Hospice •Crumlin Children’s Hospital

Musical – annual performance •Auditions Cast•Auditions Chorus•Auditions Dancers•Stage Managers•Props Managers•Sets Crew•Hall Committee•Promotions Committee•Tickets Committee

President’s Award:• The Gaisce President’s Award

involves individual initiative and self-directed learning ably assisting students gain self-confidence, overcome shyness while enhancing their personal CV!

• Students follow Bronze and Silver Challenges during their time in St. Louis

Also on offer during

Transition Year:

Activity Trips:Multi-activity day adventure trips include activities like• Orienteering,• Map Reading, • Hill Walking, • Kayaking, • Rock Climbing, • Abseiling •Banana Boating• Brain Teasing Challenges •Team Building

Mission Statement of Transition Year

“To promote the personal, social, vocational and educational development of students and to prepare them for their role as autonomous and

participative members of society”

Department of Education and Skills

2 year Course

Leaving Cert Established

Final Exam – June 2013

• In St. Louis, Transition Year is optional so after Junior Certificate students may opt to go directly into Fifth Year where they join the students who have already completed Transition Year

• If you are considering this option, it is worth remembering the following points.

• All students make their final choice of Leaving Certificate subjects before Fifth Year

• You will be asked to make these choices in the next few weeks.

• Exam preparation for the L.C. starts immediately at the start of Fifth Year

• You will be joining a class which is a mixture of students coming from Third and Fourth Year

• .

• It is not possible to take up a new language in Fifth Year.

ST LOUIS SECONDARY SCHOOL

SUBJECT CHOICE 2011

Subject Optionsand Implications

Mrs. Anne LillisCareer Guidance Counsellor

Subject Choice• When choosing a subject it should be one you

like.• It should be one you will be willing to work at.• All subjects require work at Leaving Cert level.• Then you should check is it useful for

something you might like to do as a career.• Always try to talk to someone who is doing the

subject. What do they like about it?

Optional subjects

4th Year Choose 4French ,German, Spanish,Business, Accounting,History, Geography, Art, Music,Chemistry-Physics (combined), Biology

•5th Year Choose 4French, German, Spanish,Business, Accounting,History, Geography, Art, Music, H.E.Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agricultural Science

Foreign LanguageA language is needed to study at some

institutions. The NUI Colleges and their constituents:

• UCD, UCC, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth• National College of Art and Design• St Angela’s Sligo• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland• Shannon College of Hotel Management.• Also for Cadetship in The Defence Forces.

Exceptions• If born outside ROI you are eligible for

an exemption from Irish. In this case Irish or Lithuanian or Polish etc. satisfies the second language requirement.

• In NCAD art satisfies as a 3rd language

• UCD, UCC and NUI Galway do not require a 3rd language for Nursing

• UCD, NUI Maynooth, NUIG and UCC do not require a 3rd language for Engineering or some Science programmes.

Foreign Language

Can only take French or German now if studied to Junior Cert.

Spanish if studied in Transition Year may be continued to Ordinary Leaving Cert.

Business & Accounting• These subjects are not usually required for

entry to do a course in them. It may be difficult for anyone who does not have a Leaving Cert in them. Often an Ordinary level B3 is required in maths.

• Business Studies must have been studied for Junior Cert to be allowed to take Accounting

• It is possible to take Business without having Business Studies in Junior Cert.

Art• It is possible to take up Art if it has

not been studied for Junior Certificate.

• It includes the study of Art History and Appreciation as well as practical work.

• It is useful for many design courses and a portfolio is often required.

• It is a requirement for Architecture in Ulster University

History

• History is useful for careers in Politics, Journalism, Law, Civil

Service, Tourism, Genealogy, Museum work and Research.

It involves reading and essay work and requires a project.

Geography• Geography is • accepted in Trinity as one of the two required

science subjects for Medicinal Chemistry, Science (Ag science not accepted with Biology) and Pharmacy.

• It covers many areas: locational geography, map reading, the EU and many topics relating to the world we live in i.e. global warming etc.

Home Economics• Home Economics is useful for careers in

Catering, Childcare, Consumer Advice, Food science, Nursing, Social Studies, Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy etc.

• It can be taken up now if it has not been studied for Junior Cert.

• It involves practical work (cookery), science (physiology), business (consumer studies), and construction studies (home design and heating)

Music

• The course in music allows scope for those who are good performers, good composers and good listeners.

• It is useful for careers as music editor, sound engineer, sound mixer, producer, etc.

Science• A science is a requirement for many courses.• It is needed for medicine and other medical

courses like nursing, physiotherapy, radiography, etc

• It is needed for many Beauty Therapy Courses and for Hairdressing.

• It is needed for engineering, architecture, computing,

• Primary Teaching in the UK requires a science.

• Some courses in Trinity require two. • For Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary three

sciences are needed in some UK Universities.

Which Science?Physics• Physics is very useful for technology,

computers and electronics. Some paramedical courses involve study of it i.e. radiography, physiotherapy, optometry.

• The Architectural Technology and Radiography courses in Ulster University require it.

Which Science? Chemistry

• Chemistry is essential for Human Nutrition, Dietetics, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary and Pharmacy.

• It is useful for chemical engineering, biomedical science, brewing technology, nursing etc.

Which Science?Biology• Biology is involved in hundreds of

careers. It is often required for medical courses particularly in Trinity and the UK where two or three sciences are needed.

• It is required for many Beauty Therapy and Hairdressing courses.

• It is useful for all the paramedical courses, Agriculture courses, food science etc.

Which Science?Agricultural Science

• Agricultural Science involves the study of soils, plants and their function including farm crops and trees. Farm animals and buildings are also studied. A project is part of the exam

• It is accepted in Rep of Ireland as a lab science but not where a specific science is required. In some instances it is not accepted with Biology.

What Happens Now?

• Students will be asked to make choices for (a) programmes and (b) subjects.

• Any student may make an appointment if they have any queries.

• Parents are also welcome to make an appointment.

2 year Course

Leaving Cert Applied

Final Exam – June 2013

• LCA is a 2 Year Programme.• Students go directly from Third Year

to Fifth Year.

• Students are mainly prepared for entry into the World of Work.

• LCA does allow you to enter 3rd Level Education, but not directly from secondary school.

• It is a distinct, self-contained two-year Leaving Certificate programme aimed at preparing students for adult and working life

• It emphasises forms of achievement and excellence which the established Leaving Certificate has not recognised in the past

What is

Leaving Certificate Applied?

•Students who are not adequately catered for by other Leaving Certificate programmes

•Students who choose not to opt for those programmes

Who would benefit most?

• Prepares students for adult and working life

• Recognise talents of all pupils

• Promotes communication and decision making

• Applies knowledge and skills to the solution of real problems

Rationale

• Vocational Preparation & Guidance

• English & Communication• Mathematical Applications• Information technology• Art Craft & Design• Hotel catering & Tourism• Drama• Gaeilge• Spanish• Leisure & Recreation• Social Education• Science• ICT Skills• Religion

Curriculum

Homework is BOTH

Written

And

Practical

Key Course Content Student Centred Curriculum Continuous Assessment

(Interview/Oral/Written exams) Personal and Social

Development Integration Across the

Curriculum Team Work Basic Skills (literacy) Active Teaching/Learning Reflection Links with the Community

Key Assessment Principles

System levels to Achievable Goals

Good Self Esteem

Gaining Self Confidence

Work Experience

Key Feature

Once a week

Four different placements over the two years

Credits are awarded for work experience

Key Benefits

Offered a chance to achieve

Offers opportunity to get a place in a PLC college

Destination of Students•Most of our students go to further education (PLC Colleges and colleges of Further Education in Northern Ireland

•National statistics show 25% of LCA Students go to further education but we have a much higher percentage

•Possibility to apply through the CAO to Third Level Universities after PLC courses

gives educationally challenged students an opportunity to achieve

This could be the best option for your daughter