The LCA has an entirely different structure to the Leaving Cert. Its subjects range from community care and dance to communications and engineering and it is assessed continuously throughout the two years. Students often go straight to work after the LCA, usually in jobs they have obtained through work experience. Others go on to apprenticeships or further training.

"It is absolutely the best thing for students who are not academically-inclined, " said Sally Maguire, a learning support teacher in Dublin. "It gives them confidence, restores their faith in their abilities and gives them invaluable preparation for life."

The Leaving Cert Vocational Programme is a valuable programme to students of all abilities who are also doing the traditional Leaving Cert. Along with their ordinary subjects, students are prepared for working life through such things as business courses, work experience, IT training, CV preparation and career planning.

"There are now 531 schools taking the programme, which is quite a lot, " said Frances Holohan, course coordinator. "But there are still schools out there who have the incorrect perception about the course. A lot of schools that are academic may feel they have no time for LCVP, but once parents and teachers understand what it's about, they realise there is great value to it."