Transition Year

TY CAREER CHOICES

What is Transition Year?

Transition Year is a one-year optional programme between Junior Cycle and any of the two year Senior Cycle programmes that is devised by the school. Transition Year offers learners an opportunity to mature and develop without the pressure of an examination. Our Transition Year Programme can change from year to year depending on resources and student interest and engagement. In order to ensure that Transition Year is accessible to all students we endeavour to keep the fees associated with this programme as low as possible by being mindful of costs when planning all activities.

The Aim of Transition Year

• Education for maturity with an emphasis on personal development including social awareness and increased social competence
• The acquisition of general, technical and academic skills including communication and enterprise skills
• Education through experience of adult and working life

Learning in TY

Learning in TY takes place in a number of different ways;

• Activity based learning
• Modules in a large range of subjects and courses
• Group Work, discussions, debate, interview and role play
• Guest speakers and seminars
• Visits out of school and field trips
• Work experience and community projects
• Participation in an on-stage production

The Transition Year Curriculum

In order to meet the aims of Transition Year our Transition Year programme consists of a mix of core subjects that students undertake for the duration of the year along with a series of subject sampling that enables our students to taste all subjects that are available at Leaving Certificate level within the school.

This exposes the Transition Year student to new subjects that they may not have experienced before and provides them with an informed choice when choosing subjects at the end of Transition Year. Students also partake in a range of short courses/modules and additional Transition Year activities that have been devised as part of our Transition Year Programme.

TY Modules

These modules will rotate every 4/5 weeks as outlined below:

Work Experience

Students will participate in two periods of work experience, each for the duration of one week. For many of our students this will be the first time that they will enter the working world and it is therefore a valuable experience for the Transition Year student. Prior to participating in work experience students will be taught how to seek their own placement and how to prepare and conduct themselves in the world of work.

Students are encouraged to experience two different placements in order to help them make informed decisions about their future career. If an opportunity arises for a Transition Year student to partake in work experience outside the two weeks chosen by the school, the school will support students to avail of that opportunity.

Garda vetting is required for work experience involving children and vulnerable adults (e.g. working in primary schools, crèches and with people with disabilities.) Garda vetting is for over 16’s only and is processed through the school.

Assessment in Transition Year

Assessment in TY takes place in a number of different ways including:

• Certificate of completion
• Portfolio of TY Year
• Work Experience Report
• Class Presentation
• Completion of Projects
• Summative Assessment
• Formative Assessment

Students will be assessed in TY through several ways such as assignments, projects and exams.  Students will be awarded credits at Christmas for year long subjects as well as when each module ends. Assessment will take place twice during the year at Christmas and in the Summer. This assessment will take the form of school reports as well as a certificate of Achievement at the end of the year which is based on the amount of credits obtained from each subject / module during the year.