Senior Cycle - Business
The Leaving Certificate Business course is offered at both Higher and Ordinary Levels. 'Business' is a Business Studies option within the established Leaving Certificate programme. It is concerned with the understanding of the environment in which business operates in Ireland and in the wider world. It also involves equipping the students with a positive view of enterprise and its applications in the business environment, in both the public and private sectors.
Topics Covered
The syllabus is broken down into three sections: A, B, and C.
Section A: People in Business
(Unit 1) Introduction to people in business / People and their relationships in business / Conflicting interests and how they are resolved
Section B: Enterprise
(Unit 2) Enterprise Introduction and definition of enterprise / Entrepreneurs and enterprise skills
(Unit 3) Managing 1 Introduction and definition of management / Managers and management skills / Management activities
(Unit 4) Managing 2 / Household and business manager / Human resource management / Changing role of management / Monitoring the business
(Unit 5) Business in action / Identifying opportunities / Marketing / Getting started / Expansion
Section C Environment
(Unit 6) Domestic environment / Categories of industry / Types of business organisation / Community development / Business and the economy / Government and business / Social responsibilities of business
(Unit 7) International environment / Introduction to the international trading environment / European Union / International business
Senior Cycle - Accounting
Accounting is a business studies option within the Leaving Certificate programme. Leaving Certificate Accounting provides students with the knowledge, understanding and skills in accounting and financial management necessary for managing personal and basic company accounts. Accounting is a crucial subject choice for those considering studying accounting, actuarial studies or finance after the Leaving Certificate. Commonly seen as the mathematical side of business, accounting attracts the more numerate student. It teaches students the bookkeeping side of business but delves deeper, teaching students to analyse and interpret the figures. This course offers a hard working student the real possibility of high grades because of the unambiguous nature of the questions. An organised student with a likeness for order will be particularly suited to this course.
Course content:
- Financial Statements Preparation
- Farm Accounts
- Club Accounts
- Company Accounts
- Manufacturing Accounts
- Financial Statements
- Analysis and Interpretation
- Budgeting
- Break-even Analysis
- Cost Classification
- Accounting Theory and Principles
Assessment:
The subject is examined at higher and ordinary level. Both levels involve one exam of three hours duration. The exam paper is made up of three sections, the first two are based on the Financial Accounting section of the course and the third covers the Management Accounting section. Questions must be answered from all sections of the exam paper.
Senior Cycle - LCVP
About LCVP:
The primary goal of the LCVP is to prepare young people for adult life by ensuring that they are educated in the broadest sense, with an ability to cope and thrive in an environment of rapid change. Participants in the programme are encouraged to develop skills and competencies fundamental to both academic and vocational success.
Students taking the Leaving Certificate Examination will follow two Link Modules over the course of the two years.
LCVP students receive the same certificate as other Leaving Certificate students but their Certificate includes an additional statement of the results of the Link Modules.
The Link Modules are recognised for points purposes by the Institutes of Technology and the Universities. The points are allocated as follows:
- Distinction 66 points
- Merit 46 points
- Pass 28 points
Assessment:
LCVP is assessed using a Written Examination (40%) and by Portfolio of Coursework (60%). The Portfolio of coursework must be submitted on the first Wednesday in March. The written examination takes place the first Wednesday in May of the Leaving Certificate Year. The examination is of two and a half hours duration and consists of three sections which are
outlined below. The structure of the Written Examination is as follows:
- Section A Audio Visual Presentation
- Section B Case Study (received in advance by students)
- Section C General Questions (4 out of 6)
The Portfolio of Coursework accounts for 60% of total marks. Students assemble the portfolio over the two years of the programme and it is assessed at the end of the final year of the Leaving Certificate. The Portfolio and Written Examination are externally assessed by the Department of Education & Skills.
Subject Criteria:
Typically, LCVP students take seven Leaving Certificate Subjects plus the Link Modules. Students must be taking a minimum of five Leaving Certificate subjects. Students must have the following subject combinations to take part in the LCVP programme:
1. Construction Studies; Engineering; Design and Communication Graphics; Technology - Any Two
2. Physics and Construction Studies or Engineering or Technology or Design & Communication Graphics
3. Agricultural Science and Construction Studies or Engineering or Technology or Design & Communication Graphics
4. Agricultural Science and Chemistry or Physics or Physics/Chemistry
5. Home Economics; Agricultural Science; Biology - Any Two
6. Home Economics and Art - Design Option or Craft Option
7. Accounting; Business; Economics - Any two
8. Physics and Chemistry
9. Biology and Chemistry or Physics or Physics/Chemistry
10. Biology and Agricultural Science
11. Art - Design Option or Craft Option and Design & Communication Graphics
12. Engineering or Technology or Construction Studies or Design & Communication
Graphics and Accounting or Business or Economics
13 Home Economics and Accounting or Business or Economics
14 Agricultural Science and Accounting or Business or Economics
15 Art Design or Craftwork Option and Accounting or Business or Economics
16 Music and Accounting or Business or Economics
Students must also be taking a recognised course in a Modern European Language other than Irish or English in the school. If a student is exempt from Irish for the Leaving Certificate they must still comply with the requirement to present a minimum of five subjects in the Leaving Certificate.
Modules:
Link Module I - Preparation for the World of Work
Students will research and investigate local employment opportunities, develop job seeking skills such as letter writing, CV presentation, interview techniques; gain valuable practical experience of the world of work; interview and work shadow a person in a career area that interests them.
Link Module II - Enterprise Education
Students will be involved in organising visits to local business and community enterprises; meet and interview enterprising people on site and in the classroom; plan and undertake interesting activities that will build self–confidence, creativity, initiative and develop teamwork, communication and computer skills.
We ask students wishing to undertake this programme to commit to the following:
As an LCVP student, I am committing to the following:
I will attend classes with all relevant copies/ books/ equipment.
I will undertake to behave with respect at all times in school and for out of school activities.
I will meet all deadlines for assignments.
I will cooperate with classmates on certain assignments.
I will cooperative at all times with my teachers.
I have access to my own personal computer and printer.
I will complete one week of work experience outside of school time.
(Work experience must be sourced by students themselves. It should be in an area of employment the student is interested in. This must be completed by the end of fifth year.)
I have checked that I fulfill the subject requirements(1) for entry to the LCVP programme and I have the correct subject combination in order to do the programme.
I understand that once I commit to the programme, I am not permitted to leave the programme.