1. St. Joseph’s Secondary School Foxford
Senior Cycle & Transition Year Information Evening 28th February 2017

2. PROGRAMME
Transition Year Option- Miss O’Brien Senior Cycle Subject Choices- Mrs. Doyle Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) – Miss O’Brien Questions and Conclusion

3. Your Choices
Transition Year OR
Senior Cycle
Senior Cycle +LCVP

4. Entry into TY Admissions Policy Application Form.
We also research the student group going into TY to find out about the their reasons for opting for Transition Year …..

5. Resourcing
Subjects and Programmes -offered are subject to availability of resources –Finance & Staffing
Cost of Transition Year for the parent /guardian is largely dependant on the nature of the activities completed in the various modules.

6. St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford
Transition Year Option 2017 – 2018

7. What is Transition Year ?
Transition Year is a one-year Programme between the end of the Junior Certificate and the start of the Leaving Certificate Programme.
Introduced to schools in Ireland in 1973.
Currently, over 27,000 students are participating in TY in 540 schools.

8. Aims of Transition Year
To promote maturity.
To assist each individual develop himself or herself as a person.
Promotion of general, technical & academic skills.
To help young people prepare for adult life especially through contact with workplaces and career interests.

9. Advantages of TY Students develop maturity & self confidence.
Students improve their self esteem.
Build interpersonal & team skills.
Make wiser subject choices for Leaving Certificate & further education.
Extend the learning experience beyond the classroom.

10. Advantages of TY Students become more self reliant learners.
Students get to explore the working world.
Extend their repertoire of learning styles – group work/debating.
Achieve improved Leaving Certificate results.
Develop entrepreneurial skills – Create business plans.
Students discover more about their personal strengths.

11. Disadvantages of TY
If students have difficulty working on their own initiative – TY may not be for them.
Year out – Disruption to the normal routine of homework & structured learning.
Cost – Can be an expensive year.

12. You will only ever get out of TY what you put into it.

13. Research on TY
NCCA – National Council for Curriculum & Assessment has carried out various studies on the TY Programme.
TY students do better in their Leaving Certificate by an average of 26 points.
Repeat Students only gain by an average of 5 points.
TY students are more likely to be educationally adventurous & less likely to drop out of college.

14. Entry into TY Not all 3rd year students have automatic entry.
Initial Application Form (Available).
We take into account:
The Code of Behaviour
The Age of the student
Lottery
Interview- if deemed necessary(Personal goals and reasons for doing TY, Compatibility of their interests and the TY Programme).
The school demands a high standard of work & co-operation.

15. TY Programme Includes;
3 SPECIFIC LAYERS
Core Subject Layer – Irish, English, Maths etc.
B. Optional Subjects – Home Economics, Science, Art etc.
C. Extra Curricular Activities – Drama, Foreign Tour, Swimming, Driving Lessons etc.

16. Core Subjects Irish English Mathematics Religious Education
Physical Education
Careers & Work Experience
Information Technology (IT)

17. Some Optional Subjects
Environmental Studies (Green Schools)
Home Economics (Food Safety)
Science (Forensic Science, Sports Science)
Business (Enterprise)
Art
French / German
Woodwork
Metalwork (Technology)
Legal Studies
Technical Graphics
Geography
History

18. Possible Extra Curricular Activities
Choreography
Enterprise projects
Trips Out
Bonding Day
Foreign Tour
Killary Adventure Centre
First Aid
Road Safety Shuttle
YSI –Young Social Innovator
Choir
Driving Theory
Drama/Pantomime
Driving Lessons
Karate
Swimming
Tag Rugby
Gaisce
Mental Health Awareness Programme
Guest speakers
Plays
Safety in the Workplace
Guest Speakers- AWARE

19. Portfolio
The school requires each TY student to complete a Portfolio of work.
Portfolio is an essential part of the TY year & must be done to the students best ability
Includes samples of best work, reports & projects in subject areas and any certification obtained through the year.
Portfolios will be on display for parents to view on our TY night at the end of the year.
Interview assessment on portfolio items.

20. So why opt for TY? Time to mature & develop
Space to reflect & plan after Junior Certificate
Make reasoned subject choices for LC
Age profile of Irish students
Challenges facing young people today – Points race
Changing attitudes and demands within education
Recent research (NCCA)

21. Thank You Application forms
We are available for any questions you may have at end of talk

23. Introduction Subject Choice Booklet Subject Groupings
Essential Subjects
Ideal Subjects
Other Entry requirements
Choosing Subjects

24. Booklet Contents of each Subject. Key points to consider.
Careers that this subject could be useful in.

26. Leaving Certificate
Two-year programme that gives the opportunity to take seven subjects at Higher, Ordinary or Foundation Level. Foundation level is available in two subjects - Irish and Mathematics.

27. SUBJECT CHOICE.
When it comes to making subject choice it is important to get advice and to choose wisely.
There are 3 Core subjects.
Then there are 4 essential or desirable subjects for certain third level courses

28. Subject Groupings : Language Group Irish, English, French,German Science Group Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Business Studies Group Accounting, Business, Applied Science Group DCG, Construction Studies, Engineering Social Studies Group History, Geography, Art, Music, Home Economics

29. For the fourth subject I would consider which essential subject I need
For the fourth subject I would consider which essential subject I need ? ie French/German or a Science Subject.

30. Essential Subjects
To study at one of the colleges of the National University of Ireland you must choose a third language in the L.C. It can be important to have a modern continental language anyway. However some courses are excluded
* Nursing
* Engineering
* Science courses.

31. Colleges of NUI
UCD
UCC
NUI MAYNOOTH
NUI GALWAY
NCAD

32. What 3 more to choose from the available subjects?

33. Desirable Subjects So what about the next three
Desirable Subjects So what about the next three? A science subject (often two science subjects) is essential for careers in medical, paramedical careers
physiotherapy, radiography, human nutrition, pharmacy medical laboratory science and nursing.

34. SCIENCE
One laboratory science subject needed for most science/healthcare courses.
BIOLOGY
* Must be Biology for
* Human health and Disease
* Genetics
* Beauty Therapy.
* (Advisable for Nursing)

35. CHEMISTRY
PHARMACY
VETERINARY
MEDICINE
DENTISTRY
DIETETICS

36. OTHER SUBJECTS
ART & MUSIC – Generally not required as basic entry requirements even if intending not to study at Third Level .
HOWEVER
ART – Portfolio Requirement MUSIC – Competence Test

37. For your sixth and seventh subjects it is
enjoy studying & have an ability
This could be Business, Geography, History, Art, Music, Home Economics, Technical Graphics/DCG, Engineering, Construction.

38. Consequences of poor Subject Choice
Student may be unhappy with subject which may lack motivation
May not do as well as they hoped
Not having a subject they need for a course
May want to change subject later .

39. Don’t make rash decisions *What the students friends are doing.
*Who the teacher will probably be.
*Rumours from older brothers/sisters or friends about what is an “easy” subject- a subject is only easy if you are good at it.

40. % Marks
New Grading System
(HL / OL)
Points
(HL)
(OL)
LCVP
90 – 100
H1 / O1
100 56
80 – 100
Distinction 66
80 < 90
H2 / O2 88 46
65 – 79.9
Merit
70 < 80
H3 / O3 77 37
50 – 64.9
Pass 28
60 < 70
H4 / O4
50 < 60
H5 / O5 20
40 < 50
H6 / O6 12
30 > 40
H7 / O7
0 < 30
H8 / O8

41. Closing Doors
Not choosing a science subject can close doors at this stage.
Nursing requires a science subject
If you don’t choose a third language you are limiting courses in NUI Colleges

42. It is important to have a substitute choice that you have researched and that you are happy with should one of your choices prove not to be feasible.
For this reason we are asking you to choose
6 subjects from the list
Excluding the 3 core.
This includes 2 reserve subjects.
Leaving Cert students study 7 subjects altogether but can also study LCVP.

43. ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED
COMPULSORY/CORE SUBJECTS
ABILITY
INTEREST
EXISTING SKILLS
MOTIVATION
PREFERRED STYLES OF LEARNING
JUNIOR CERT SUBJECTS
TY EXPERIENCES

44. Subject Option that covers everything
Irish
English
Maths
French
Biology/physics.
Any 2 other

45. Information www.qualifax.ie - useful tools section www.cao.ie
– subject choice section
Look to the school for information
Career section in School

46. To summarise Core subjects Essential Subjects Desirable subjects
The Points System
Ability
Any Questions?

47. Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) St
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) St. Joseph's Secondary School Foxford, Co. Mayo.

48. An Enhanced Leaving Certificate
The LCVP is a two year programme taken as part of the Leaving Certificate
It has been designed to develop “ Skills” essential to academic and vocational success.

49. Skills Team Working Critical Thinking Flexibility Leadership
Basic Skills (incl. IT)
Motivation to Learn
Communication
Initiative & Enterprise
These skills are equally relevant to young people progressing to further study, working for themselves or going directly into employment

50. LCVP Helps Students Take responsibility for their own learning
Become more innovative and enterprising
Communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively
Investigate and plan their career options

51. and to.. develop key skills for the modern working environment
work well with others as part of a team
network with people in business and the community
access and use computers and audio-visual equipment

52. LCVP Structure 2 Link Modules Vocational Subject 2 Vocational
Irish
Modern European
Language
Other LC Subjects
Most LCVP Students take 7 Leaving Certificate
Subjects plus 2 Link Modules

53. Vocational Subject Groupings
1 Construction Studies )
Engineering ) Any Two
Design & Communication Graphics DCG )
Physics and Construction Studies or Engineering
3 Home Economics and Biology
4 Home Economics and Art
Accounting and Business or Economics
Biology and Physics

54. Vocational Subject Groupings
7 Engineering and Accounting or Business or Economics
8 Construction Studies and Accounting or Business or Economics
9 Home Economics and Accounting or Business or Economics
10 Art and Accounting or Business or Economics
11 Music and Accounting or Business or Economics

55. LCVP Revised Link Modules (from Sept 2002)
Preparation for the World of Work
Enterprise Education

56. Preparation for the World of Work
Purpose
To provide the student with a general knowledge of the world of work, the skills to find employment and experience in an adult working environment.

57. Enterprise Education
Purpose
To identify enterprising skills, profile an entrepreneur, investigate business and community enterprises and set up their own enterprise projects as vehicles of learning.

58. Purpose of the Link Modules
The Link Modules help you put theory into practice
Business
Community
Work / Career
Vocational Subjects
LINK
MODULES

59. Typical LCVP Activities
Invited Visitors
Site Visits
Case Studies
Work Experience
Using Computers
Video Interviews

60. Link Modules Assessment
The Link Modules are assessed by written examination and portfolio

61. Link Modules Assessment Written Examination
Section A - Audio Visual
Video sequence of an enterprise
Section B - Case Study
Received 4 weeks in advance
Section C - General Questions
Choice of 4 questions from 6

62. Link Modules Assessment Portfolio of Coursework
Core Items CV
Career Investigation
Enterprise/Action Plan
Summary Report
Options - any two from:-
Diary of Work Experience
Enterprise Report
Recorded Interview/Presentation
Report on “My Own Place”

63. % Marks
New Grading System
(HL / OL)
Points
(HL)
(OL)
LCVP
90 – 100
H1 / O1
100 56
80 – 100
Distinction 66
80 < 90
H2 / O2 88 46
65 – 79.9
Merit
70 < 80
H3 / O3 77 37
50 – 64.9
Pass 28
60 < 70
H4 / O4
50 < 60
H5 / O5 20
40 < 50
H6 / O6 12
30 > 40
H7 / O7
0 < 30
H8 / O8

64. Thank you We are available for any questions.