The L.C.V.P. was introduced in St. Paul’s in 1998. The Leaving Cert. class of 2000 were the first to sit the exam.

The Leaving Cert. Vocational Programme (L.C.V.P.) can be described as a leaving certificate with a strong vocational dimension. It provides students with the opportunity to release their potential for self - directed learning, for innovation and for enterprise.

The programme balances the virtues of the traditional academic leaving certificate with the development of skills and qualities which will prove relevant to the lives of students on leaving school for further education, the world of work, or the business of making a living.

Skills learned through L.C.V.P, such as planning, researching, writing reports and making presentations are a key to success at third level.

Employers are enthusiastic about L.C.V.P because it encourages the skills and qualities which they value. Modern workers need to be well educated good communicators, multi - skilled and able to work in a team.

Students following the L.C.V.P. in St. Paul’s:

- Meet and interview enterprising people in business and in the community.

-Plan and undertake activities with their class to develop self-confidence, creativity and initiative e.g. some activities undertaken by the 2000 class were; Christmas card and cake sale for charity; a rag day and the production of the yearbook.

- Develop their job seeking skills, such as letter writing, CV presentation and interview preparation.

- Research and investigate local employment opportunities.

- Gain valuable practical experience of the world of work.

- Investigate a variety of careers.

- Interview and work shadow a person in a career area that interests them.

- Gain experience at using computers and audio visual equipment.

The L.C.V.P - An Enhanced Leaving Certificate.

Career Investigations

From the start of 5th year, the LCVP students are very busy with their career investigations. All students have chosen a career, which they were interested in and are in the process of investigating it fully. This involves conducting research into the career, i.e. finding out about career paths, employment prospects, pay and working conditions, etc. Careers being investigated vary from beauty therapy to carpentry, to teaching, to social work, etc. Also, as part of the career investigation, students undertake an interview and a work shadow with a person in their chosen career. They will have completed their work shadow over the Halloween break.

Ms Mary Keane from Young Enterprise Ireland comes to visit the 6th year LCVP group in October. This forms part of their Enterprise Education in LCVP. She speaks with them about Young Enterprise Ireland and her work. The students find it very informative and write a report on the visit for their portfolio of coursework.

Planned Trips

Each year the LCVP classes go on visits to local and international companies. The 5th and 6th year groups will visit Coca-Cola for a tour of their bottling plant in Dublin. This is always a very educational tour as the students learn about the history of the company and get a chance to see first hand what is involved in producing one of their favourite refreshments.

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The 6th year group will also visit Modus Media in Kildare Town. This gives them the opportunity to investigate how an international company like Modus Media helps the local community. It also offers the students the chance to interview people in the company in different career areas. They also learn about the organisation of the company, which is beneficial for their business class.

Both these trips will provide students with ample material for reports, letters and plans, which are required items for their portfolio of class work.