Senior Cycle

Firhouse ETSS is proud to offer both Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) and Leaving Certificate Established (LCE).

Below you can see the presentation we used when guiding parents, guardians and students over which programme to take.

Senior Cycle Parent/Guardian Presentation

For our current TY students, this is what the next few months will look like in terms of senior cycle in 5th Year

Key Dates

What's Happening

Monday 20 February 2023

Andrew and Eoin will do a Zoom call outlining the differences between LCA and LCE. This will take place at 6pm and a VS-Mail with the link will be sent before the midterm break.
It will be an opportunity for students and parents/guardians to explore both programmes and ask any questions.
After this Zoom event, we ask that you complete a simple Microsoft Form confirming if you are choosing LCA or LCE for your child for next year. Below is the link to the Microsoft Form and also a QR code to the form.
https://forms.office.com/e/5vjuk6WyL3

Friday 03 March 2023

Deadline for the Microsoft Form deciding on LCA or LCE.

At this stage, depending on whether you have chosen LCA or LCE, there will de different timelines involved. Please check out either the LCA or LCE timeline below.

Future Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) Students - Timeline

Monday 20 March 2023 (LCA Students Only)

Students will be asked, via Microsoft Forms, to rank the optional subjects so that we get a sense of what vocational specialisms the students would be interested in.
https://forms.office.com/e/t2qyixftFF

Friday 24 March 2023 (LCA Students Only)

Deadline for the Microsoft Form ranking subject options

Future Leaving Certificate Established (LCE) Students - Timeline

Monday 06 March 2023 (LCE Students Only)	LCE students will have to whittle down 13 optional subjects to 8 optional subjects. This will be done via VSware and the options section will be live from 06 March-16 March. To find this in VSware, click 'Options' when you click on your child's profile. We will give you all the subjects we can offer and you will preference them from 1 to 13 (1 being the most preferred, and 13 being the least preferred).
Thursday 16 March 2023 (LCE Students Only)	Preferences from 1-13 close on VSware at 12pm.
Monday 20 March 2023 (LCE Students Only)	We will notify you as to what the 8 optional subjects we can offer for this group. Now that we are down to the final 8 optional subjects, we need you to preference these again, now from 1-8 (1 being the most preferred, and 8 being the least preferred). This is so that we can figure out what subjects go against each other on the same line, and therefore, timetabled at the same time. This will be done via VSware and the options section will be live from 20 March - 27 March. To find this in VSware, click 'Options' when you click on your child's profile.
Monday 27 March 2023 (LCE Students Only)	Preferences from 1-8 close on VSware at 12pm.
Friday 31 March 2023 (LCE Students Only)	Students are informed of LC optional subjects

Leaving Certificate Applied (An Overview)

Area of Study 1 - Vocational Preparation

Vocational Preparation and Guidance
English

Area of Study 2 - Vocational Education

Mathematical Application
Hotel Catering & Tourism
Graphics & Construction
Introduction to ICT

Area of Study 3 - General Education

Social Education
Visual Art
Languages (Gaeilge & Italian)
Leisure and Recreation

Area of Study 4 - Short Courses/Electives

Music
Science
Reflection Time
Check & Connect

Students involved in the Leaving Certificate Applied programme complete one day of work experience a week (each Wednesday).

Should Garda Vetting be needed for a specific work experience, please complete the following form: Garda Vetting (How To and Application Form)
The insurance letter to be given to all employers for work experience is here: Firhouse ETSS 22.23 Work Experience Letter.pdf

Leaving Certificate Established (An Overview)

Compulsory Subjects