Transition Year

A Message from the Coordinator

The Transition Year programme is unique to every school, meeting the needs of the students it serves. It is a one-year programme, designed to act as a bridge between the Junior and Senior Cycle. It facilitates a smooth transition between the dependent learning of Junior Cycle to the more independent self-directed learning required for Senior Cycle. It provides an opportunity for students to grow, mature, develop new skills, make new friends, and experience the working world.

The programme provides a learning structure which promotes maturity with an emphasis on social awareness and increased social competence whereby students begin to take a greater responsibility for their learning and decision making. Students develop a range of transferrable critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills. The programme promotes general, technical, and academic skills with an emphasis on interdisciplinary and self-directed learning. In the process, the students develop a wide range of cognitive and emotional skills as the programme is learning led rather than exam driven, and students build resilience and confidence by trying new things as the programme provides broad and enriching experiences. The programme affords students opportunities through the world of work where they experience the adult and working life.

Carmel McSweeney

Co-ordinator

Structure of Transition Year

There are four layers to the TY calendar.

Core

At the core of the programme, students study Irish, English and Mathematics which provides an opportunity for compensatory education.

Leaving Cert sampling layer

There are four modules for sampling the Leaving Certificate subjects and each module is of three/four weeks duration depending on the number of subjects on offer in the band. The following subjects are sampled at this stage – Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Ag. Science, Business, Accounting, Construction, D.C.G., Engineering, Geography, History, Home Economics, Music, French, Art, and P.E. At the end of the four modules, students choose their subjects for the Leaving Certificate.

TY modules

There are three modules on offer in relation to TY specific subjects. In these rotations students study media studies, mini company, S.P.H.E., sport, study skills, careers, cultural studies, nutrition, public speaking, R.S.E., car maintenance, coaching, Y.S.I., and Spanish. Students study each of the above for six weeks. Students also study Chinese.

Calendar “once -off” events

These once off events include first aid, a trip to an outdoor educational centre, simulated car crash, trip abroad, and mental health talks. There are three separate weeks for work experience built into the programme in November and May. This gives students an opportunity to practically explore the world of work and students make contact with the wider community.

Other Features of Transition Year

  • Competitions such as the BT Young Scientist
  • Gaisce – President’s award
  • Big Brother Big Sister
  • Trips to Career’s Exhibitions
  • Visiting performances e.g. Chemistry
  • E.C.D.L.
  • Fundraising -charity activities
  • Hillwalking
  • Magazine production
  • Visiting speakers
  • Self defence
  • Enterprise
  • Look into Law

What are the benefits of Transition Year?

DISCOVER -New skills & Interests

BECOME – Become a more independent learner

DEVELOP – Develop confidence

MAKE – Make new friends

GAIN – Gain valuable work experience

GROW – Maturity

VALUE – Value new opportunities

TRY – Try new subjects

Expectations of Transition year Students

  • Attendance
  • High expectations
  • Punctuality
  • Openness to try new things

 

 


 

 

 

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