Aims and Overview of the Learning for Life and Work Department

Local and Global Citizenship –

1. To understand the rights and responsibilities of citizens of Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
2. To develop an understanding of diversity within society.
3. To understand the differences between sections of our community.
4. To appreciate the democratic process, and the part they can play in it.

Personal Development –

1. To understand the concepts of health.
2. To appreciate the risks posed by behaviour, and the dangers of drug abuse.
3. To develop skills for study.
4. To understand a sense of self, and the benefits of healthy relationships.

Education for Employability –

1. To appreciate the value of work.
2. To understand how skills and interests can be used in shaping a career plan.
3. To access information on the world of work.
4. To develop the skills involved in sensible decision making.

Staffing

Mr B. Adams (Subject Leader)
Class teachers will deliver LLW their form class

Facilities

All teachers have access to interactive whiteboards and printing facilities. Relevant and modern textbooks and access to a computer are available to all members of the department.

Why Study Learning for Life and Work?

Pupils need to understand the world in which they live. Pupils also have a need to find a personal identity. Learning for Life and Work widens their experience through a study of situations and concepts both national and international. It offers a pool of human experience which gives a perspective to the pupil’s own experiences.

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.

Finally, pupils need to develop the ability to think critically and make judgments about human situations. Pupils will learn to question and assess evidence and make judgments on people and events based on such critical questioning. Learning for Life and Work deals with situations where people will have to make decisions, and by the exercise of empathy, pupils should gain experience of the difficulties of human decision making.

Useful Web Links

www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/microsites/llw/
www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/microsites/LLW/gcse/
www.nicurriculum.org.uk/...learning/learning_for_life_and_work/