LEAVING CERT VOCATIONAL PROGRAMME
PORTFOLIO 2021
EXAM NO.137037
CURRICULUM VITAE
Elisa Fenton
I am an optimistic, encouraging, and dedicated person.
PERSONAL DETAILS:
Address: Garrynoe, Fermoy, Co.Cork
Date of Birth: 22/03/2002
E-mail: Elisafenton454@gmail.com
Contact number: 0834667763
EDUCATION:
2007-2015 Scoil mhuire gan smál, Clondulane, Co. Cork
2015 – Present Colaiste an Chraoibhin, Co. Cork
Leaving Certificate 2021
Subject
Maths
English
Irish
Biology
Home economics
Business
French
Link Module
Level
Higher
Higher
Higher
Higher
Higher
Higher
Higher
Common
Grade
To Be Taken
To Be Taken
To Be Taken
To Be Taken
To Be Taken
To Be Taken
To Be Taken
To Be Taken
Junior Certificate Certificate 2018
Subject
English
Maths
Irish
Science
Business
Home economics
French
Material technology wood
CSPE
Level
Higher
Higher
Higher
Higher
Higher
Higher
Higher
Higher
Common
Grade
Higher Merit
B
C
B
B
A
C
A
A
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Date
Employer
15-19
October
2018
March
2018-2019
Lisa Leahy
Clondulane N.S
Leahy’s open farm
Duties
●
●
●
●
●
●
Operating the photocopier
Helping students with queries
Helping teachers with jobs
Operating the till e.g., ticket sales, food orders
Giving tours to big groups of children and adults
Working in the culinary department e.g., ice-cream and
chocolate factory and main kitchen
● Operating machinery e.g., staffing mini diggers and
driving the quad.
● Working with animals
● Cleaning and tidying the farm
SKILLS AND QUALITIES:
● I have excellent communication skills from working at Leahy’s open farm. I also have become great
with working with children from being a tour guide at Leahy’s open farm and babysitting in my free
time.
● I have exceptionally good culinary skills from working with deep fat fryers, preparing produce for
resale, and working with tempering and moulds in the ice cream and chocolate factory
● I am a very driven and motivated person
ACHIEVEMENTS:
● I won best interview for my mini company business ‘Twice Styled fashion show’ in aid of Simon
community at a trade fair for young entrepreneurs.
● I captained our school rugby team for our first win in CIT during my junior cert year.
● I was a finalist of Apprentice Chef a cooking competition in WIT.
INTERESTS AND HOBBIES:
●
●
●
●
I have many hobbies inside of school. I compete in the rugby, football, and basketball team.
I am apart of Fermoy Rowing Club.
I enjoy volunteering with Fermoy COPE foundation.
I also horse ride at home in my free time.
REFEREES:
Name
Teresa Leahy
Lisa Leahy
Title
Owner of Leahy open farm
Past principal of Clondulane N.S
Address
Dungourney,mallow,Co.Cork
Clondulane,Fermoy,Co.Cork
Telephone
086 872 2603
025 32863
Signed: _______________
Date: ________________
Careers Investigation-Post Primary Teaching.
Description of Career:
Post-Primary Education: Post-primary teachers will normally specialise in one or two subjects and will teach
these subjects to students from the first year to the sixth year. This means that a teacher can teach up to eight
lessons in one day to different classes containing up to 30 students each, often of differing ability levels.
Skills and Qualities:
Communication skills: Communication skills are key for post-primary education as it is especially
important to convey the information you are teaching well and in a simple manner for people to understand.
Interpersonal skills: Strong people skills can turn an average teacher into a successful one. An educator that is
inclined towards helping others will create warm relationships that, in turn, boost learning. A pleasant teacher
who has an engaging personality creates attentive and enthusiastic students.
Enthusiasm: Your enthusiasm is infectious. If you love your subject and your job, you will be able to engage
the people you teach.
Confidence: You cannot be a teacher if you do not have the confidence to stand at the front of the classroom and talk to
your students. You must be a strong character that can answer questions positively and instil the same self-assurance
within your classroom.
Qualifications and training required:
Option 1
Option 2
Bachelor of Arts (Education, Home
Economics and Biology)/
Professional master's in
education (with Home Economics)
St. Angela’s College, Sligo
Course Title
Bachelor of Science in Physical
Education.
College Name and
Address
Entry Requirements
University of Limerick
Length of Course
4 years
A laboratory science subject Two H5
(Higher level) grades and Four O6
(Ordinary level) grades or four H7
(Higher Level) grades. Subjects must
include Mathematics, Irish or another
language, English, and a laboratory
science.
5 years
Details of Course
Over the 4-year course students are
qualified to teach maths and P.E.
these 4 years would include a PME
and work placement.
Over the 4-year course students are
qualified to teach leaving cert biology
as well as junior and
leaving cert home economics.
Two H5 (Higher level) grades and
Four O6 (Ordinary level) grades or
four H7 (Higher Level) grades.
Subjects must include Mathematics,
Irish or another language, and
English.
Out of class learning experience.
When I went to the career expedition in Rochestown Park hotel I was able to see the different colleges, which
one was suitable to me, and I was able to ask questions to college and university spokespeople who were able to
give me a deeper insight to the courses and colleges themselves that are not on their website.
As well as this, I interviewed a teacher in my school about exactly what the course entails and the specific
modules to get a personal evaluation also the day-to-day running's,
Evaluation of career considering personal aptitude, interests, and choice of
leaving cert subjects.
After reflecting on my own skills and qualities I feel I would be well suited to a career in post-primary teaching.
I am understanding and patient which are of utmost importance for this career.
When I teach my classmates something in class and I help them to understand. I find extremely rewarding and
interesting.
In school I am studying maths and home economics which could be relevant knowledge needed to become a
post primary teacher depending on which pathway I take.
Overall Evaluation of career investigation
After talking to the woman representing Maynooth University I realised the different pathways I can go into
Maths and P.E teaching if I do not get 498 points. I can do an extra year and do arts, but I will only be able to
teach Junior Cert maths.
As well after talking to Home Economics teachers I realised the points for Home Economics and religion
teaching are significantly lower than Home Economics and biology if I do not get the points.
I learned a lot of skills from doing this career investigation for example I gained IT skills from working on the
computer and I also gained research skills around careers from using Quaifax and CareersPortal online and
reading the college prospectus.
Work Experience Diary
Prepared by: Elisa Fenton
Dates of Work Placement: 17 -20 of February
th
th
Name of Business: Crixus
Address of Business: Garrynoe,
Fermoy,
Co.cork
Contact Details: Patrick Walsh (083) 385 7702
Description of Business:
Crixus is a gym in the centre of Fermoy. It offers Personal training, a range of exercise classes, membership to
use the facilities.
Name of Supervisor: Patrick Walsh
Position of Work Placement:
Assistant to Personal Trainer.
Duties carried out:





Re-racking weights
Shadowing Personal Trainers
Manning front desk
Wiping down machines
Sweeping and hoovering floors
Reason for Selection of Work Placement:
I choose it because due to its relation to physical education teaching. I also have an interest in personal training.
I wanted to learn how to perform moves correctly. What muscle is worked and lastly how is it beneficial to
clients training?
Day One:
Date: 17/02/20
Starting Time: 9.00am
Finishing Time: 2.00pm
Training/ Health and Safety Instructions given:
 Patrick my supervisor showed me how to lift the weights correctly cack on to the rack to reduce the
chance of injuring myself.
Duties Performed:
At the start of the first day, I was shown where it put my belongings and I was given my first job. I was told
to get Dettol wipes and wipe down all the machines. Firstly, I wiped down all the cushions on the machine
and then continued to wipe down the stands next to them with the weights and drink holder. After I finished
that I got a demonstration on how to lift the weights to reduce the chance of injury. After that, he gave me
the task of re-racking weights after people and organising them according to weight. Then I used my
initiative to find a sweeping brush and sweep the floors. I also checked the girls dressing room and wiped
down all the surfaces and refilled the soap. I then cleaned up by the front counter organising and hoover the
room where the fitness classes take place.
Interactions with staff

I talked to Patrick about the pathway he took into becoming a Personal Trainer and why he wanted to open
his own gym. He told me about his tours in South Africa and from working in the army he grew his fitness,
strength and discipline and he loved it. He then realised that was what he wanted to focus on fitness and to
help other people achieve their fitness goals.
Observations:

I realised there are not many tasks that have be to complete throughout the day. Once it is running you can
outsource everything. Cleaner, secretary and having contract personal trainers. After that, the business really
runs itself. I noticed Patrick did not do much throughout the day. He just manned the front desk and helped
the odd client confused with exercises.
Problems:

On the first day, I found it very hard to find jobs as the owner had no jobs to be completed. He told me
to just keep walking around and look for unracked weights. Which made it hard to talk to other personal
trainers because they were all sitting down behind the desk.
Skills & knowledge acquired that can be applied to school/ home/ community:

I learned how to lift heavy weights without injuring myself which is very transferable to living on a farm
at home carrying bags of grain and fertiliser. The communication skills I learned from talking to clients
and the owner are also transferable to my school life and community life in communicating with other
people.
Analysis of Performance:

I feel that even with the lack of jobs I did my best to make up jobs and show initiative trying to find
more things to clean and do.
Day Two:
Date: 18/02/20
Starting Time: 9.00 am
Finishing Time: 2.00 pm
Training/ Health and Safety Instructions given:
 Patrick provided me with training on how to man the front desk which included using the booking
system, taking money, and giving change and lastly, the rules for example Under 16s were not allowed
to train without an adult present.
Duties Performed:
 Manned the front desk.
 Helped out with mommy and toddler class.
 Sat in on a spinning class
 Shadowed Richard the PT with 3 of his clients
Interactions with staff:
 I spoke to Patrick about the rules of the gym. He explained to me how important it is to ask the first-time
gym-goers to be 16 and over. If they are not and get injured, it is not covered by the insurance.
Observations:
 It is very hard to distinguish if a customer is lying about their age and if they are there is not much the
owners can do or say you must trust their word.
Problems:

During the time the owner was gone a lot of underage people tried to get into the gym and it was hard to
distinguish if people were 16. It was also hard to turn them away if they were Under 16. It really tested
my communication skills. As well as this, there was a problem when two men who did not check in with
me at the checkout desk and headed straight into the dressing rooms. I went to one of the PTs and he
informed me they just walk in because they have no fobs.
Skills & knowledge acquired that can be applied to school/ home/ community:


I found myself been in difficult, awkward situations that will really translate into my school, home, and
community life. I feel it helped my social skills and deal with hard conversations.
It also taught me to ask questions to management before talking to costumers. This can reduce awkward
and maybe argumentative conversations with costumers.
Analysis of Performance:

I was very proud of myself that I was able to handle the difficult decisions that arose during my second
day for example having difficult conversations with customers I had to turn away.
Day Three:
Date: 19/02/20
Starting Time: 9:00 am
Finishing Time: 2:00 pm
Training/ Health and Safety Instructions given:
 Patrick showed me how to answer the phone and how to answer their questions and take a message if
needed.
Duties Performed:
 The first thing I did was I cleaned the floor and hoovered before anyone came in.
 I then help set up a tone and sculpt class by moving equipment and taking money off the attendees. After
that was finished, I put back the equipment and wiped it down. I also wiped down the mirrors and
cleaned the floor.
 Lastly, I manned the front desk while Patrick went out for lunch. I talked to costumers and talked them
through the different classes we provide and booked them in.
Interactions with staff:
 I had a great interaction with Patrick this day I felt he really trusted me to handle things and gave me
more independence.
Observations:
 I found costumers were keener to talk to me and ask me for help as they had seen me there working for a
few days.
 I found the trainers and Patrick trusted me to do work on my own and trusted me to find jobs.
Problems:

I ran into a problem when talking to costumers I wasn’t sure my answers were right to every one of their
questions but I made sure to ask Patrick and caught the costumers at the end of their session with the
information. Customers were actually pleased with my attentiveness and appreciated the effort I made to
find out the information and relay it.
Skills & knowledge acquired that can be applied to school/ home/ community:


My communication skills were increased after talking to costumers and trainers.
My confidence also increased after seeing the trust Patrick and his team put in me to work by myself
with more challenging jobs.
Analysis of Performance:

I think Day 3 of work experience was by far my best in relation to my performance. I felt a real part of
the team.
Evaluation:
Did you enjoy your work experience and why?
I really enjoyed my work experience it gave me a good insight into the inner workings of a gym that you
do not see from the outside.
Would you still like to pursue this career and expand?
I would still love to pursue a job in physical education with an elective in maths.
By taking on this work experience has enhanced my desire to do this. Also do a side course after my teaching
degree to become a personal trainer to enhance my knowledge, upskill and provide more income options which
would fit in great with the short teaching hours and summers off.
What course do you think would help you to get a job in this area?
As I am going for physical education choosing an elective in maths i think the Sports studies and physical
education course in UCC or UL would be perfect.
Is this course attainable for you?
Working off the 2019 points which are 499. I think it is achievable in comparison to my Christmas
exams I would have received 499. I am also likely to be eligible for the HEAR scheme which may allow me
in on reduced points.
Do you think you are well suited to this job and expand?
I do think I am well suited to the job. I have a love for education, especially maths. Sport also plays a big
part in my life. I was involved in the football, basketball and rugby departments in my school and also was
involved in the Fermoy Rowing and Rugby Club.
What skills do you have that would help you in this job?
I have good organisational skills which are very important for the high volume of paperwork involved in
teaching. I would consider myself to have a good skill set in I.T which is becoming more and more of a part
of our education system today.
What subjects do you think will help you most in this career?
Maths would play a vital role in my career as I will be teaching it.
Biology will also be very helpful in relation to the human body which is a big part of Physical education.
Application:
Home: I learned some cleaning skills I can use at home as well some manual handling I can use when
manoeuvring objects at home.
School: I think the independence that was given to me while working at the gym showed me, I am more than
capable of solving problems on my own. Which can transfer over to my school life and will make me more
confident taking on new challenges. Talking to a lot of older people than me really improved my
communication skills which I will be able to transfer over to my school life making me more confident talking
to teachers and management.
Community: Through working at the gym, I was able to get more familiar with my community. I think this will
be a benefit to me on further projects in my community to make me feel more comfortable talking to the
members of my community and therefore getting more involved.
Summary Report
Title: Summary Report on the Tourism Potential of Fermoy and the surrounding catchment area.
Prepared by: Elisa Fenton
Aims of the Report:
 To investigate the North Cork area in relation to tourism.
 To seek development opportunities to further exploit these tourist areas.
 To increase my knowledge and skill of report writing.
Overview of Tourism in Fermoy:
Fermoy is a town on the River Blackwater in east County Cork, Ireland. As of the 2016 census, the town and
environs had a population of 6,500 people. Fermoy is 35.5km from the nearest city, Cork City and a fortyminute drive to the nearest beach.
Tourism Feature #1:
Barnane walk starts from near the town centre of Fermoy where the main road crosses the Blackwater. It then
passes through very pleasant, wooded countryside, in part alongside the riverside.
Tourism Feature #2:
Careysville House is a lodge that offers first-class hospitality. Guests come principally for the premier salmon
fishing that the River Blackwater provides. Located just outside the town in the small village of Clondulane.
The accommodation is spacious along with an award-winning chef. Careysville offers a complete package for
fly fishing enthusiasts and their guest alike.
Tourism Feature #3:
Knockananig reservoir is located within Fermoy. It was originally used as the main water supply for the town. It
is surrounded by a lovely walk as well as forestry all around. I feel as this place is an uncovered gem for
tourism for Fermoy. That needs to be exploited.
Evaluation & Conclusions:
After researching the tourism in the Fermoy and catchment area, I was astounded by the amount that
is available. It enhanced my knowledge of my local area and everything it have to offer. Saying this most are
underdeveloped. It was fun to produce unique ways to exploit these areas. Lastly, I learned the important skill
of report writing that is applicable to my leaving cert English and Business course as well as a skill I could
harness in future job prospects.
Recommendations:
One general recommendation I had was to set up a North Cork Tourist Instagram. An
Increased number of businesses are moving to social media and especially Instagram to enhance their
business. A free source of advertising. I know myself I do not look up websites in search for places to go. I look
to Instagram and see places my friends are going. With the use of tags and partnership of small businesses I
think this could transform the tourism in the North Cork area.
I think without a doubt the Knockananig reservoir is a hidden gem for Fermoy. This area can be taken
advantage of to compliment the increased popularity of kayaking and cold-water swimming.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we are unable to visit people outside our household so if I were to do
this again, I think I would like to visit these places and interview workers or local people.