St Oliver’s C.C. – Leaving Certificate Applied
Vocational Preparation & Guidance
Course Overview
Aims & Rationale
The aim of the Vocational Preparation & Guidance (VPG) course in St. Oliver’s Community College is to prepare the students for the world of work so that they can become productive, competent and responsible members of the workforce. The school aims to assist the students in reaching their full potential by recognising their personal skills and characteristics in order to identify an individual career path. The programme also aspires to make students aware of business models and organisations in the commercial, community and voluntary sectors. The course further intends to introduce students to their rights and responsibilities in the workplace.
This is achieved by developing the technical, personal and professional skills required to be a productive and positive member of the working world and society. The aims are further realised by reflection on their work experience placement, sites visits, invited guests and speakers and through participation in the Business in the Community Programme with Irish Cement.
Time Allocation
VPG is delivered in year 1 and year 2 of the LCA Programme. The course is allocated 3 class periods per week in 5th year and 3 class periods per week in 6th year.
Assessment
In VPG, students are assessed in two general areas – VPG course work and their work experience placement. With regards to VPG course work, students receive credits on the successful completion of key assignments and achieving a minimum of 90% attendance. With regards to work experience, students are assessed on the successful completion of their work experience portfolio as well as a feedback report from the work experience contact, submitted at the end of each of the four sessions.
Task
Students complete an enterprise task in session 2. Students have two options in relation to the enterprise task. Students may, either in a group or individually, run an enterprise/event. The other option available to them is to complete an investigation into an enterprise. Students submit a task report that is assessed by an external examiner. Students also complete an interview on their enterprise task for which they are graded.
Special Projects – Business in the Community (Irish Cement)
The Business in the Community (BITC) programme aims to positively impact on educational inclusion and address key issues in areas of educational inclusion in Ireland. The programme does this by matching one school with a large local business and engaging in various programmes.
St. Oliver’s Community College is twinned with Irish Cement. The company, alongside the BITC co-coordinator, delivers six sessions with the students focusing on the topics of company organisation, CV preparation, interview skills and management and production. Irish Cement human resource team visits the school and performs mock interviews with the students. They give feedback on the interviews. Students also make a site visit to the Irish Cement plant at Platin, Co. Meath. At the end of the programme, all students give a feedback presentation to the programme co-coordinators on their experience. The BITC programme runs in session 1 & 2 and all students in 5LA participate in the programme.
Modules
Vocational Preparation & Guidance comprises seven modules:
- Module 1 – Guidance
- Module 2 – Jobsearch
- Module 3 – Work Experience 1
- Module 4 – Work Experience 2, 3 & 4
- Module 5 – Enterprise
- Module 6 – Community work
- Module 7 – Work and Living
The following modules are mandatory:
- Module 1 – Guidance
- Module 2 – Jobsearch
- Module 3 – Work Experience 1 & 2
- Module 5 – Enterprise
The other modules may be delivered at the discretion of the individual VPG teacher.
Note: The Guidance module is delivered by a guidance counsellor while all other modules are delivered by a VPG teacher.