Transition Year

What is Transition Year (TY)?

TY is a one year programme providing a crucial bridge to help pupils make the transition from the highly-structured environment of Junior Cycle (1st to 3rd Year), to one where they will take greater responsibility for their own learning and decision making at Senior Cycle (5th & 6th Year). It is a compulsory part of Our Lady’s School’s six-year programme.

What is the philosophy of TY?

TY gives students the time and space to mature, develop self-confidence and grow in independence. Students engage in the world of work and have opportunities to develop personal and social skills through a range of experiences which are designed to challenge students beyond the boundaries of the traditional classroom. Students are encouraged to forge new links and nurture new interests within the school community, the broader community and in society. TY is about personal development, embracing new challenges and looking ahead to the future.

What will I study?

Core subjects are studied all year round. These include: English, Irish, Maths, European Language, Science, Business, History & Geography, Careers & Social Personal & Health Education, Information Technology, Religious Education, Life Skills, Drama and Recreational Studies (PE). Recreational Studies takes place one afternoon a week and involves visiting local amenities for swimming, Pound, multi-sports and Boxercise.

Students choose to study two specialist areas for the full year from a wide range of options including: Enterprise, Musical Production, Chinese Language and Culture, Leadership in Sport, Fashion (Junk Kouture), Film Making, Journalism, Young Social Innovators, Art, Internet Studies.

Students also study shorter (6 - 10 week) blocks from a range of subjects including World Affairs, Development Education, CSI (Forensics), Music, Home Economics, Leadership, Drivers Education, Philosophy.

The range of subjects on offer seeks to strike a balance between TY-specific areas and subject sampling with a view to helping the students make informed decisions about their subject choice for Senior Cycle.

What else will I do?

Work Experience – students arrange and complete Work Experience in a number of different workplaces throughout the year in areas relevant to their own interests and ambitions.

Throughout the year, as extensions of the curriculum, students engage in a variety of development opportunities in areas such as First Aid, Self-Defence, wellbeing workshops and field trips.
Each year a trip to an outdoor pursuits centre is undertaken by all TY students in late September. This trip is a TY trip that serves to open the year on a note commensurate with the philosophy of TY – one of personal challenge and group cohesion.

Throughout the year, students are encouraged to maximise the potential of TY for engaging with extra-curricular activities, including: Toastmasters (public speaking), Sign Language classes, Tech 4 U (teaching IT skills to others), European Youth Parliament, Model United Nations, Gaisce (The President’s Award) and the range of sporting and extra-curricular activities on offer in the school.

What about after TY?

Throughout the year, students earn credits for effort and participation in all aspects of TY (subject work, extra-curricular involvement, Work Experience, etc.). Towards the end of TY, students will complete their personal portfolio and a TY interview, gaining further credits for their efforts. Credits accumulate to determine the level of certification awarded on TY Night in May (Distinction, Merit, Credit, Pass). This latter phase of TY is an affirming process which highlights all the work and personal development that has been undertaken in TY, underscoring the competencies that have been harnessed by each student for Senior Cycle. Coupled with Career Guidance, this sets our students up to embrace the challenges of 5th Year well-equipped with a repertoire of skills and self-knowledge.

Please see attached documents for further details:

2024-2025

• • TY Information Evening 2023-24
  • TY Work Experience Policy
  • TY Plan 23-24
  • TY Work Experience Insurance: Letter available on TY Google Classroom

• • Work Experience Evaluation form 2023-24
  • Garda Vetting Form
  • TY ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE PROCEDURES

Some other Work Experience resources:

• • Sample work experience placements
  • Cover Letter & CV

2025-26

• • TY Parent Information Meeting 2025
  • Garda Vetting Form