Learning for Life & Work

Departmental Staff

Head of Department: Ms Clare Maguire (Coordinator)

  • Mr Martin Canavan
  • Mrs Siobhan Kearney
  • Ms Mary McManus
  • Miss Julie Donaghy
  • Mrs Noella Murray
  • Mrs Anne O’Hare
  • Mrs Pauline McGuinness
  • Miss Grace O’Neill
  • Mrs Lisa McConville
  • Miss Michaela Downey
  • Ms Vernetta Hillen
  • Miss Caroline McShane

 

Background Information

Contemporary society presents us with a maze of challenges and opportunities that can at times seem overwhelming. We navigate that maze by means of the decisions we make, in our family lives, with friends, at school and at work. Learning for life and work creates a specific space to focus on thinking through major decisions and their implications.

Some relate to our concept of local and global citizenship, such as ‘What are my rights, and what responsibilities go with them? What is my attitude to others who are different? What is “fair”?’ Some are issues of personal development: ‘How can I look after my own well-being? How should I deal with relationships?’ Others relate to employability, such as ‘How is the workplace changing? Taking account of my strengths and interests, where can I best fit in?’

As a general concept, learning for life and work is involved in all meaningful experiences in education. As a specific subject area, it provides practical tools to think independently, make informed choices and act responsibly in today’s world.

 

Curriculum

Key stage 3 (Years 8, 9 & 10)

Personal development

 

Key Concepts

 

Self-awareness: considering the importance of self confidence and self esteem to physical and emotional/mental health throughout life.

Relationships: recognising and managing factors that may influence physical and emotional/mental health throughout life .

Personal health: forming and maintaining relationships to physical and emotional/mental health throughout life.

 

Local and Global Citizenship

 

Key Concepts

 

Diversity and Inclusion: considering diversity in societies and identifying the challenges and opportunities which diversity and inclusion present.

Human Rights and Social Responsibility: understanding that a globally accepted values base exists that reflects the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups in democratic society.

Equality and Social Justice: understanding the need to safeguard individual and collective rights.

Democracy and active participation: understanding how to participate in and influence democratic processes and to be aware of some key democratic institutions.

 

Employability

 

Key Concepts

 

Career management: the changing concept of career, lifelong learning and the development of skills for work.

Work in the local and global economy: the changing nature of work and the impact of global interdependence.

Enterprise and entrepreneurship: the need for creativity, enterprise and innovation.

GCSE ( Years 11 & 12)

 

 

 

Examining Board: CCEA

 

Course Content

This course provides students with the skills they require to think independently, make informed decisions, and take appropriate action when faced with personal, social, economic and employment issues.

 

Pupils will study…

 

Local and Global Citizenship

 

This area of study gives students opportunities to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to participate positively and effectively in their communities and wider society; influence democratic processes; and make informed and responsible decisions as local and global citizens throughout their lives.

  • Diversity and inclusion in Northern Ireland and the wider world
  • Rights and responsibilities regarding local, national and global issues
  • The role of society and government in safeguarding human rights
  • Non-governmental organisations
  • Key democratic institutions and their role in promoting inclusion, justice and democracy

 

Personal Development

 

This area of study gives students the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of their own personal development; and assess and learn how to manage the challenges that they may face throughout life.

  • Maximising and sustaining health and well-being
  • Concept of self
  • Building and maintaining healthy relationships
  • Recognising, assessing and managing risk
  • Understanding the roles and responsibilities of parenting
  • Developing competence as discerning consumers

Employability

 

This area of study gives students opportunities to develop the personal qualities, skills, knowledge, understanding and attitudes that will give them a strong foundation for lifelong learning and work in a rapidly changing economic environment.

  • The impact of globalization on employment
  • Recruitment and selection practices for employment
  • Rights and responsibilities of employers and employees
  • Issues of self – employment and sources of support

 

You will be assessed in the following way…

 

Two reports from PSHE, Local and Global Citizenship or Employability.

Controlled assessment is work carried out by the students in a classroom under the supervision of the teacher. Tasks are set by CCEA and students are only allowed a set number of hours to complete the work. Only research can be completed at home.

Unit 1: Report 1 Task based on one of the three areas of study – worth 30%

Unit 2: Report 2 Task based on a different area of study from that selected for Unit 1 worth 30%

Unit 3: Paper 1 hour 30 minutes a written examination paper based on the three areas of study – worth 40% (Year 12 Summer 2011)

 

Future Prospects

 

The wide range of skills learnt in this course will help young people develop as individuals and contributors to society, the economy and the environment.

This course will help young people to think independently, make informed decisions and take appropriate courses of action in relation to personal, social, economic and employment.

 

Extra Curricular Activities

  • Mini-Enterprise
  • Human Rights Group
  • Red Cross Collaborative Learning project
  • Diversity Week