Learning for Life and Work (LLW) is central in helping young people develop the fundamental skills, knowledge, qualities and dispositions that are pre-requisites for life and work. This area of learning contains the contributory strands of: Employability, Home Economics, Local and Global Citizenship and Personal Development.
Education for Employability
Education for Employability is delivered through four key dimensions: Work in the Local and Global Economy; Career Management; Enterprise and Entrepreneurship; and Skills and Qualities for Work. The aim of Education for Employability is to ensure that all young people develop the personal qualities, skills,knowledge, understanding and attitudes that will give them a strong foundation for lifelong learning and work. These skills are equally important for all young people regardless of if they want to go straight into the world of work or study a course at university.
Career Management
- Develop skills/qualities
- Engage in career planning,
- Investigate skills and training required in a range of jobs
Work in the Local and Global Economy
- The changing global economy
- The effects of technology on life and work
- The work environment
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
- Investigate the characteristics and achievements of an Entrepreneur
- Explore how businesses are constantly looking for innovative, enterprising and creative ways to attract customers
- Demonstrate initiative and creativity in organising a task or resolving a problem
Local and Global Citizenship
Education for citizenship equips young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding to play an effective role in public life. Citizenship encourages them to take an interest in topical and controversial issues and to engage in discussion and debate. Pupils learn about their rights, responsibilities, duties and freedoms and about laws, justice and democracy. They learn to take part in decision-making and different forms of action. They play an active role in the life of their schools, communities and wider society as active and global citizens. St Brigid’s pupils have one Citizenship lesson per week at Key Stage 3. In year 10 pupils take part in the ‘CASE’ programme in conjunction with the PSNI. This initiative teaches pupils about their rights and responsibilities within their own communities, it also provides pupils with information on e -safety and preventing Hate Crime.
Personal Development
Personal Development is a process that involves the entire world of the young person. We describe Personal Development as: ‘Encouraging each child to become personally, emotionally, socially and physically effective, to lead healthy, safe and fulfilled lives and to become confident, independent and responsible citizens, making informed and responsible choices and decisions throughout their lives.’ St. Brigid’s plays a significant part in helping pupils to cope with the challenges of everyday living and helping them in their development toward adulthood. Pupils have one Personal Development lesson per week.
Personal Development is concerned with:
- knowledge;
- attitudes;
- skills;
- relationships;
- behaviour that can be utilised in and outside the classroom;
- Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities;
- emotional awareness;
- values;
- life skills.
Personal Development is based on the following key concepts:
Self awareness which provides opportunities to consider the importance of self confidence and self esteem to physical and emotional/mental health; Pupils have an opportunity to explore their sense of self and their personal morals, values and beliefs. They investigate influences on self and others and develop skills to improve their own Learning. Personal health which provides opportunities to understand the importance of recognising and managing factors that may influence physical and emotional/mental health; Pupils have the opportunity to explore the concept of holistic health and the range of influences that can have both a positive and negative impact on all aspects of their health, including legal and illegal substances, accidents and all aspects of personal safety. Relationships which provides opportunities to understand the importance of forming and maintaining relationships to physical and emotional/mental health; Pupils have the opportunity to explore the qualities of relationships including friendships, and loving, respectful relationships. They examine ways to cope with challenging relationships and conflict situations and explore the implications of sexual maturation and early sexual activity.
