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:

2021-2022

Transition Year:

• • TY Information Booklet 2021-22
  • 3rd Year into TY Information Evening 2021-22

Subject Choice for TY:

• • TY 2021-22 subject option descriptors

2020-2021

TY Graduation May 2021:

Click here for a look at some of our TY Graduation material from May 2021.

Work Experience:

• • TY Work Experience Booklet
  • Information for Students re Work Experience 2020-2021
  • Letter to Parents Re Work Experience 2020-2021
  • Transition Year Work Experience Presentation 2020-2021
  • Work Experience Evaluation Form 2020-21
  • Work Experience Insurance Policy 2020-21

2019 - 2020

• 3rd Year Parents’ Information Meeting for TY 2019-20
• TY Information Booklet 2019-20
• Letter to Parents re work experience 19-20
• Letter to Parents Re Garda Vetting 2019-20
• Garda Vetting Guidelines
• Garda Vetting Form-NBV1
• Parent/Guardian Consent Form
• Sample work experience placements
• Cover Letter & CV
• Contact details for Employers 2019-20
• Contact details for Community Service 2019-20
• Work experience evaluation form 2019-20
• Work Experience Insurance Policy 2019-20
• Policy re: lottery placements
• Policy on placements outside of allocated weeks
• Application form for extra week placement
• Evaluation of extra week placement