Student Experiences of the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme

90 ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE?The work experience module is assessed and credited upon satisfactorycompletion, which then forms part of the assessment process for LCAalongside the performance of student tasks and performance in theterminal examinations. 86.3Perceptionsand Natureof WorkExperienceas Part of theFormalCurriculumSupport for work experience as part of the LCA curriculum was evidentamong almost all of the interviewees and not just those whose schools hadgood career guidance and structured work experience programmes forstudents. The majority of respondents felt that work experience was animportant part of the curriculum and that it was an incentive to participatein the programme.Derek had wanted to leave school a number of times and knew that hewanted to do something practical as a career choice. He outlined that workexperience was one part of the curriculum that he particularly enjoyed:I loved it, absolutely loved it, that was the one thing, I’d go in on a Mondaymorning looking forward to Friday. (Derek, 21, completed LCA, workingin trades)This was also the case for Donal who had wanted to leave school earlybecause he ‘just wanted to work’:The one thing that I liked about it though was the work experience, the day off,you’d one day off every week like. One day a week off, which is good, because yougot to do your work experience, what I wanted to do like. Even though I stillknew I wanted to do an apprenticeship, and that’s how I got my apprenticeship,through that like. (Donal, 23, dropped out of LCA, apprentice)Niamh, who had always intended to complete senior cycle, felt that thework experience was a particularly interesting component of the LCAprogramme:I mean one of the reasons I went for it was the work experience, I wanted to dothat. (Niamh, 21, completed LCA, employed)One the main benefits of taking LCA outlined by respondents was thatit allowed them to decide what they wanted to do. Andrew felt that thework experience component of the LCA programme was a good way to getyou thinking of what to do after leaving school:Yeah, the work experience part is very good, yeah, it’s the right idea to get youthinking for when you’re going to be leaving school. (Andrew, 21, completedLCA, apprentice)Justin felt that if he had done the LCE he would have considered othercourses or gone travelling. He believes the LCA programme led him to theoccupation he is in which he enjoys:8 All of these then combine to give the overall ‘score’ of the LCA (Pass, Merit, Distinctionor Record of Experience) and students obtain a Leaving Certificate from the StateExaminations Commission.