2. THE TRANSITION YEAR PROGRAMME Virginia College Thursday, 14 March 2011 Mr. Michael Duffy

3. INTRODUCTION One year programme One year programme Bridges the transition from JC to LC Bridges the transition from JC to LC Encourages personal/social development and independence Encourages personal/social development and independence Development of a wide range of transferable skills Development of a wide range of transferable skills Fosters academic achievement Fosters academic achievement

4. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Each school devises its own timetabled programme to cater for the needs of its students Each school devises its own timetabled programme to cater for the needs of its students Essentially the Transition Year programme in Virginia College Essentially the Transition Year programme in Virginia College offers students a broad and balanced curriculum offers students a broad and balanced curriculum

6. LAYER ONE Core Subject Layer: English English Irish Irish Mathematics Mathematics Science Science

7. LAYER TWO Subject Sampling Layer: Spanish/German/French Spanish/German/French Creative Design Creative Design Hotel, Catering and Tourism Hotel, Catering and Tourism Music and Drama Music and Drama Graphics and Construction Graphics and Construction Engineering Engineering

8. LAYER THREE Modules specifically designed for TYP: First Aid First Aid Drive for Life and Road Safety Drive for Life and Road Safety Health and Lifestyle Health and Lifestyle Health and Hygiene Health and Hygiene Water Safety Skills Bronze Award Water Safety Skills Bronze Award GAA Coaching and Referee Award GAA Coaching and Referee Award Peer Educators Programme Peer Educators Programme Choose Safety Programme Choose Safety Programme

9. LAYER FOUR Calendar Events: Lourdes Diocesan Pilgrimage Lourdes Diocesan Pilgrimage Co. Enterprise Board Awards Co. Enterprise Board Awards Work Experience Work Experience Theatre Trip/Pantomime Theatre Trip/Pantomime Tain Adventure Centre Tain Adventure Centre Retreat Retreat Pumpkin Festival Pumpkin Festival Visiting Speakers from Gardai, Concern… Visiting Speakers from Gardai, Concern… French Exchange French Exchange

10. ASSESSMENT Integral part of the teaching and learning process Integral part of the teaching and learning process All aspects of the programme are assessed All aspects of the programme are assessed Variety of techniques: Variety of techniques: project work, portfolios, aurals, written tests, practicals, exhibitions, oral presentations, worksheets, diaries project work, portfolios, aurals, written tests, practicals, exhibitions, oral presentations, worksheets, diaries Self Assessment Self Assessment

11. CERTIFICATION Department of Education and Sciences certificate of participation Department of Education and Sciences certificate of participation Virginia Colleges certificate Virginia Colleges certificate Additionally certified courses such as First Aid, Gaisce, Bronze Award, Drive for Life, Young Scientist of the Year, Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Cert… Additionally certified courses such as First Aid, Gaisce, Bronze Award, Drive for Life, Young Scientist of the Year, Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Cert…

12. BENEFITS Transition Year can help students: Transition Year can help students: Discover more about their personal strengths Discover more about their personal strengths Develop maturity and self-confidence Develop maturity and self-confidence Build interpersonal and team skills Build interpersonal and team skills Develop entrepreneurial skills Develop entrepreneurial skills Explore the working world Explore the working world Achieve improved Leaving Certificate results Achieve improved Leaving Certificate results

13. Research There is growing evidence that students who have taken the Transition Year Programme are more self-reliant learners when they enter third-level education than their peers There is growing evidence that students who have taken the Transition Year Programme are more self-reliant learners when they enter third-level education than their peers ( Source: Commission on the Points System, Final Report & Recommendations, 1999. P46)

14. RESEARCH FINDINGS National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (1994) National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (1994) The Economic and Social Research Institute (2004) The Economic and Social Research Institute (2004)