1. development & maturity
Transition Year 2015/16
Education through
experience of ADULT
& WORKING LIFE
as a basis for personal
development & maturity
Clonkeen College

2. Transition Year History
Introduced in 1973.
First Clonkeen TY in 1986.
Nationally TY grew haphazardly in following years.
Mainstreamed by Dept of Education in 1994.
2006 – in over 85% of all post-primary schools.
Over 70% of all schools taking TY have made it compulsory.

3. Transition Year Aims Education for Education through MATURITY
experience of ADULT
& WORKING LIFE
as a basis for personal
development & maturity
Education for
MATURITY
with emphasis on
social awareness
& increased social
competence
Promotion of general,
technical and academic
SKILLS with an
emphasis on
interdisciplinary and
self-directed learning

4. ESRI Assessment 2005
Taking Transition Year has an impact on students’ academic outcomes, even taking account of initial differences between participants and non-participants.
On average, students who take part in Transition Year achieve higher Leaving Certificate exam grades and are more likely to go on to higher education than non-participants.
However, not all students do better academically as a result of taking Transition Year.
This is the case for two groups of students:
Male students who work part-time and continue to work up to their Leaving Certificate year.
Students in more disadvantaged schools where the programme is compulsory.

5. Some Important Points Critical stage in teenage development
Space to grow and mature
Recognises that there are many ways to be “smart”
More informed choice of Leaving Cert subjects
Skills foundation for Leaving Certificate
Life Skills
Third-level drop-out

6. TY is School Based Focus of a school’s particular cohort of students
Expertise of teachers utilised
Individual syllabi devised
Varied teaching and learning
Varied Assessment
School-based certification
Outside certification
Inspectorate monitored
Clonkeen TY assessed twice by inspectorate – as a stand-alone area and as part of a whole school assessment (See DES website for reports)

7. Balance in the Curriculum
TRADITIONAL SUBJECTS NEW MODULES
ACADEMIC SKILLS SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING
BASIC STUDY HABITS THE CAPACITY TO WORK IN GROUPS

8. Layers of TY Structure
TY Specific
Layer
Calendar
Core

9. Core Layer
English
French
Maths
Gaeilge

10. Optional Subjects 2014-15 Creative Writing Horticulture YSI Music
Cookery

11. Parent-Teacher Meeting
Three Term Structure
Work Experience
Visiting Speakers
Outdoor Pursuits
Life Skills
Tourism Trips
3 Term Reports
Parent-Teacher Meeting
Calendar Layer

12. TY Specific Layer Politics Tourism Trips Computers - ECDL Drama
Legal Studies
Public Speaking
Theatre/Film Outings
Social Concern
Cartoon/Film Making

13. Students Awarded ECDL Certificates TY Class of 2013-14

14. Life Skills Sailing Canoeing Rock Climbing Self-Defence Ice Skating
Gaisce Awards

15. Practicalities
Applications to principal for opt-out from TY by Fri 17th April 2015.
Division of third year classes.
Finance – a contribution of £500 to pay all the year’s costs: transportation, admission costs, outside personnel, renewal of book stocks etc.
First £250 – Fri 22nd May 2015
Second £250 – Fri 11th September 2015
Very few textbooks needed.
Copy-books, a large envelope folder…

16. Obligations Full participation in all aspects of year.
Students
Parents
Full participation in all aspects of year.
Full attendance and punctuality.
Contract of Learning.
Normal school rules apply.
Uniform.
Be interested as in all other years.
Beware part-time work.
Offer any expertise you have.
Encourage your son and only provide notes for genuine absences.
Be open to differences.