THE Leaving Certificate Vocational programme has spawned a spirit of entrepreneurship in St Mary's Diocesan School, Drogheda, Co Louth.

Two fifth year students, Michael Stafford and Allan Grogan, were surfing the Internet in a bid to find a fan club for The Corrs. When they found that no such club existed, they decided it was time to set one up.

Allan explains that they contacted the band's manager and she gave them permission to go ahead and do the market research but she has not made a final commitment to them.

Michael and Allan produced a prototype fanzine and sent out questionnaires to test the market. Their enthusiasm about the project is palpable and, all going well, their magazine may be included in the cover sleeve of The Corr's next album, so watch that space.

The two teenagers also decided to get involved with a campaign to upgrade the school's substandard classrooms. They collected signatures from their fellow students and from sixth class students in feeder national schools and wrote letters to all the election candidates. However, they say that the candidates' response to the petitions was less than interested. Undaunted, these future voters will continue to campaign for what they see as their right.

Meanwhile, fifth year students Robert Reay and Oliver Smyth made a profit from their minicompany selling plastic bag holders. They made a personal investment to employ an industrial machinist so the £60 or so profit was more than welcome. Their endeavours earned them fourth place in the county final of the Young Entrepreneurs competition.

For three sixth year students, the Leaving Cert is looming large, the projects and companies are finished and their portfolios have been assessed. However, Gary McQuillan, Stephen Duggan and Trevor Redmond appear relaxed, saying that the LCV written exam early last month was "easy enough" as they were well prepared.

Trevor said that the questions on the video clip were a little different to last year in that the last two questions were not directly answered in the clip. Students were required to think out the solution for themselves.

The three are pleased that they opted for the programme, which involved two class periods a week in fifth year and one class period a week in sixth year. They say that it increased their confidence, their keyboarding and computer skills and their ability to produce reports.

"MY own view of the programme would be extremely positive," says LCV coordinator Derek Connell. "I can see a change in students' outlook and in their development as innovative people." A total of 17 students are sitting the LCV in St Mary's this year and 23 will take it next year.

From the point of view of the teacher, Mr Connell says that it was a little daunting in the beginning as there are guidelines for the programme but the actual course content must be developed by the teacher. "I find it a very rewarding subject to teach and, being a business organisation teacher, I find it complements the subject . . . topics can be explored more fully and in a practical manner through the LCV."