Firhouse ETSS is proud to offer both Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) and Leaving Certificate Established (LCE).
Below you can see the presentation we use when guiding parents, guardians and students over which programme to take.
Senior Cycle Parent.Guardian Presentation.pdf
*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 the link is here (Passcode is: hello):
- 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

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Friday 03 March 2023 |
- Deadline for the Microsoft Form deciding on LCA or LCE.
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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

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Friday 24 March 2023 (LCA Students Only) |
- Deadline for the Microsoft Form ranking subject options
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Future Leaving Certificate Established (LCE) Students - Timeline
Wednesday 08 March 2023 (LCE Students Only) |
- LCE students will have to whittle down 11 optional subjects to 8 optional subjects. As a small school, we are pushing to provide 8.
- This will be done internally in school using the students data we get from surveying them.
- We will give the students all the subjects we can offer and they will preference them from 1 to 11 (1 being the most preferred, and 11 being the least preferred).
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Friday 10 March 2023 (LCE Students Only) |
- Preferences window closed
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Wednesday 22 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 22 March - 31 March. To find this in VSware, click 'Options' when you click on your child's profile.
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Friday 31 March 2023 (LCE Students Only) |
- Preferences from 1-8 close on VSware at 5pm
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Monday 17 April 2023 (LCE Students Only) |
- Students are informed of LC optional subjects
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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).
Leaving Certificate Established (An Overview)
Compulsory Subjects
Option Subjects Students Will Choose From (out of this list students will decide on the final 8 we can offer.)
- Art
- Biology*
- Business*
- Construction Studies*
- French*
- Geography*
- History*
- Home Economics
- Music
- Physics & Chemistry*
- Politics & Society*
* = currently on offer for the current 5th Years
Other Subjects
- Career Guidance/SPHE
- Check & Connect
- Ethical Education
- Physical Education