Student Experiences of the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme

8. PROGRESSION TOFURTHER STUDY ANDTRAINING8.1IntroductionFocusing on School Leavers’ Survey data for four cohorts of schoolleavers (who typically left school in June 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005 – seeChapter 2 for a detailed discussion of this data), this section examines levelsof participation in post-school education and training. The main focus is onthe extent to which school leavers enter Post Leaving Certificate (PLC)courses and state-sponsored training programmes such as apprenticeshipprogrammes with FÁS, the Youthreach programme, CERT (now FáilteIreland, National Tourism Development Authority) and other trainingprogrammes. As in Chapter 7, LCA leavers are compared to those wholeave school prior to completion of senior cycle (Junior Certificate leavers)and to four groups of LCE/LCVP leavers, differentiated on the basis oftheir performance in the examination (low, medium-low, medium-high andhigh).Qualitative interview data allows for a further examination of LCAschool leavers’ educational experiences when they leave school focusingspecifically on female participation in PLC courses, further education, andmales who entered apprenticeships. This information gives detailed insightsinto the impact of further study and training on young peoples’ post-schoolpathways, careers and future aspirations.8.2PLCParticipationAmong LCALeaversConsidering participation in PLC courses, young people leaving schoolfollowing completion of the LCA programme have the highest levels ofparticipation in PLC courses (Figure 8.1). Given the entry requirements ofmost PLC courses, it is not surprising to find that those leaving schoolprior to completion of either junior or senior cycle have relatively low ratesof entry into PLC courses (typically around 8 per cent). Among thosecompleting the LCE/LCVP, levels of entry to PLC courses are stronglydifferentiated according to performance in the Leaving Certificateexamination School leavers with low and moderate performance levels inthe LCE/LCVP have rates of entry to PLC courses in the order of 21 to 24per cent. It is interesting to note that those who ‘passed’ their LeavingCertificate without securing any ‘honours’ grades in the exam – themedium-low performing group – are most similar to the LCA leavers intheir patterns of participation in the PLC sector. It can also be noted thatthose performing highly in the LCE/LCVP have relatively low rates of128