Ursuline Secondary School

Leaving Certificate

Every student studies the Core subjects of

  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths

Students choose an additional four subjects from the Choice list

  • Accounting
  • Agricultural Science
  • Applied Maths
  • Art
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Design & Communication Graphics
  • Chemistry
  • History
  • Home Economics
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • History
  • Music
  • Physics
  • Physical Education
  • Technology

Leaving Certificate Grading System

HIGHER LEVEL ORDINARY LEVEL
Grade Percentage Points Grade Percentage Points
H1 90-100% 100 O1 90-100% 56
H2 80-89% 88 O2 80-89% 46
H3 70-79% 77 O3 70-79% 37
H4 60-69% 66 O4 60-69% 28
H5 50-59% 56 O5 50-59% 20
H6 40-49% 46 O6 40-49% 12
H7 30-39% 37 O7 30-39% 0
H8 20-29% 0 O8 20-29% 0

A student’s best six subjects are counted for points purposes.


Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme

LCVP is a two year Senior Cycle Programme of the Department of Education and Skills, designed to give a strong vocational dimension to the Leaving Certificate (established). The programme combines the virtues of academic study with a new and dynamic focus on self-directed learning, enterprise, work and the community.

Students at the Ursuline taking the LCVP have a unique opportunity to develop their interpersonal, vocational and technological skills. These skills are equally relevant to the needs of those preparing for further education, seeking employment or planning to start their own business.

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.

Throughout the programme students are encouraged to:

Be innovative and enterprising
Take responsibility for their own learning
Adapt to changing circumstances
Evaluate data and devise solutions to problems
Communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively
Work with others as part of a team
Investigate and plan career options
Use information and communications technologies
Investigate local businesses and community enterprises
Learn from their experiences

The strong vocational focus of the LCVP is achieved by arranging Leaving Certificate subjects into Vocational Subject Groupings (VSGs) and through the provision of additional courses of study in work preparation and enterprise known as the Link Modules.

The Link Modules

Students taking the Leaving Certificate Examination will follow two Link Modules over the course of the two years.

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.

Students should choose their subjects based on their intended career and then see if these fit into the subject groupings for LCVP. In order to study the Leaving Cert Vocational Programme students’ subjects must include a Modern European Language and two subjects from the Vocational Subject Grouping.

Any student with exemptions from languages must take part in a basic Modern European language course over the two senior cycle years.

The Link Modules are graded on both a written exam (May of Leaving Cert Year) and a Portfolio of Coursework which is written over the two years.

Written exam: 40%

Portfolio: 60%


The Link Modules Grading System

Grade Percentage Points
Distinction 81 - 100 66
Merit 65 - 79 46
Pass 50 - 64

28

A student’s best six subjects are counted for points purposes.

Feb 03
2025
TY Work Experience
Feb 05
2025
Junior& Leaving Cert Mock Exams
Feb 17
2025
Mid Term Break
Feb 24
2025
Class recommences for all pupils
Templemore Road,
Thurles,
Co-Tipperary
Eircode: E41ET35.
0504 22147
Location
© 2025 Ursuline Secondary School