Leaving Certificate Life, Community and Work (LCW)
Preparing Students for Life Beyond School
What is LCW?
Leaving Certificate Life, Community and Work (LCW) is designed to help students understand themselves, explore their future opportunities, engage with their community and develop foundations for life and work beyond school.
The course supports students in developing an understanding of their personal strengths, aptitudes, interests and achievements, while building the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to make informed decisions about their future educational journey and career path.
What will students explore?
Who am I? – developing an understanding of personal strengths, aptitudes, interests and achievements.
Where am I going? – exploring progression opportunities and making informed decisions about future education, training and careers.
How can I contribute? – understanding the role of the individual within the local community and as a national citizen.
How can I prepare for the world of work? – developing workplace knowledge, experience and skills.
How can I respond to opportunities and challenges? – developing an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to adapt to the modern world.
How is LCW structured?
LCW consists of two integrated modules, delivered over a minimum of 120 hours of class contact time.
| Module | Strands |
|---|---|
| Me and my Future | 1. Understanding Myself 2. Understanding my Progression Opportunities |
| Community and Work | 1. Appreciating my Community 2. Engaging with the Workplace |
Me and my Future
Strand 1: Understanding Myself
Students develop an understanding of themselves by exploring their strengths, aptitudes, interests, achievements, skills and experiences. They reflect on their learning and consider how their personal qualities can support future choices.
Strand 2: Understanding my Progression Opportunities
Students explore the range of opportunities available after senior cycle and develop the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their future educational and career pathways.
Community and Work
Strand 1: Appreciating my Community
Students explore their local, national and global communities. They learn about community organisations and initiatives, volunteering, enterprise and social or community enterprise, and engage with real-life community issues.
Students use approaches such as design thinking, teamwork and problem-solving to consider possible responses and solutions to community issues.
Strand 2: Engaging with the Workplace
Students develop practical knowledge and skills for entering and participating in the workplace. This includes CVs, job applications, competency-based applications, interviews, workplace communication, expectations, feedback and reflection.
Students also explore workplace rights and responsibilities, the role of technology and AI in recruitment, and opportunities to experience the workplace through work experience or work-shadowing. The specification includes a minimum three-day work experience or work-shadowing experience.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
LCW uses an integrated, experiential approach. Students participate in classroom, community and workplace experiences, reflect on what they have learned and apply their new understanding to future experiences.
Participating – taking part in meaningful learning experiences.
Reflecting – considering experiences, learning and personal development.
Applying – using new knowledge and understanding in future situations.
Developing Skills for the Future
LCW supports the development and demonstration of skills and competencies that students can use throughout senior cycle and beyond.
Communication
Problem-solving
Creativity and innovation
Collaboration and teamwork
Resilience
Digital literacy
Managing learning and self
Critical evaluation
Planning and goal setting
Participating in society
The LCW Digital Portfolio
Students develop a digital portfolio from the beginning of fifth year through sixth year. It provides a unique record of their learning and development, supported by evidence.
The portfolio can include written work, reflections, photographs, videos, presentations, audio, projects and evidence of community and workplace experiences. Students share their portfolio with their teacher as it develops.
How is LCW assessed?
LCW has two assessment components. Both are common level and are set and examined by the State Examinations Commission.
| Assessment Component | Weighting | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio in Action | 60% | Students draw on work from their two-year portfolio to respond to an annual SEC brief in Year 2 and produce an individual, multi-modal submission in a format prescribed by the SEC. The full portfolio itself is not submitted for assessment. |
| Written Examination | 40% | A written examination set and examined by the State Examinations Commission. |
Where can LCW take students?
LCW supports students as they consider and prepare for a wide range of pathways and experiences beyond senior cycle, including:
Further Education and Training
Higher Education
Apprenticeships
Traineeships
Employment
Entrepreneurship
Travel
Community involvement
Adult life and lifelong learning
LCW in a Nutshell
LCW gives students opportunities to discover more about themselves, explore future pathways, understand and contribute to their community, and develop practical skills and experiences for the workplace and life beyond school.
Discover Yourself. Explore Your Future. Engage with Your Community. Prepare for the World of Work.