TRANSITION YEAR 2015/16Clonkeen College

Education throughexperience of ADULT & WORKING LIFEas a basis for personal

development & maturity

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.

TRANSITION YEAR AIMS

Education forMATURITY

with emphasis on social awareness

& increased social competence

Education throughexperience of ADULT & WORKING LIFEas a basis for personal

development & maturity

Promotion of general,technical and academic

SKILLS with an emphasis on

interdisciplinary and self-directed learning

ESRI ASSESSMENT 2005Taking 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.

SOME IMPORTANT POINTS

Critical stage in teenage developmentSpace to grow and matureRecognises that there are many ways to be “smart”More informed choice of Leaving Cert subjectsSkills foundation for Leaving CertificateLife SkillsThird-level drop-out

TY IS SCHOOL BASEDFocus of a school’s particular cohort of studentsExpertise of teachers utilisedIndividual syllabi devisedVaried teaching and learningVaried AssessmentSchool-based certificationOutside certificationInspectorate monitoredClonkeen TY assessed twice by inspectorate – as a stand-alone area

and as part of a whole school assessment (See DES website for reports)

Balance in the Curriculum

TRADITIONAL SUBJECTS NEW MODULES

ACADEMIC SKILLS SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING

BASIC STUDY HABITS THE CAPACITY TO WORK IN GROUPS

LAYERS OF TY STRUCTURE

TY Specific Layer

CoreLayer

CORE LAYEREnglish

French

Maths

Gaeilge

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS 2014-15Creative Writing

Horticulture

YSIMusic

Cookery

CALENDAR LAYERThree Term StructureWork

Experience

Visiting Speakers

Outdoor Pursuits

Life Skills

Tourism Trips

3 Term Reports

Parent-Teacher Meeting

TY SPECIFIC LAYER

Politics

Tourism Trips

Computers - ECDL

Drama

Legal StudiesPublic Speaking

Theatre/Film Outings

Social Concern

Cartoon/Film Making

STUDENTS AWARDED ECDL CERTIFICATES TY CLASS OF 2013-14

LIFE SKILLSSailing

Canoeing

Rock Climbing

Self-Defence

Ice Skating

Gaisce Awards

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 2015Second £250 – Fri 11th September 2015

Very few textbooks needed.Copy-books, a large envelope folder…

OBLIGATIONS

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.

Students Parents