A new Leaving Certificate Life, Community and Work specification will be introduced for fifth year students in September 2026. This will replace the current Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Statement.
Leaving Certificate Life, Community & Work is a dynamic, practical Leaving Certificate subject that prepares students for life beyond school. It equips students with essential transferable skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking, while guiding them through career pathways, personal development, and community engagement.n optional subject that students can take alongside the mainsteam Leaving Cert.
The course is built around two integrated modules split into four key strands:
Me and My Future: Focuses on personal development, self-awareness, goal-setting, and researching progression opportunities such as apprenticeships, Further/Higher Education, and employment.
Community and Work: Explores workplace expectations, employment rights, and local community engagement. Students also complete a structured work-experience or work-shadowing placement.
Assessment takes the form of both written examination and a portfolio of continuous coursework completed in the duration of the two-year programme of study.
Additional information can be found at curriculumonline.ie.
