“I had heard transition year is a doss, but you do more practical work, like projects. You are a lot more tired than in Junior Cycle because you are doing so much. You don’t realise it until you look back.”

Former Transition Year Student

Transition year (TY) is a unique one year programme that links Junior and Senior Cycle together. It is now completed by the majority of students who finish secondary school in Ireland, with seventy five percent of schools offering it. Each school is given the flexibility to design their own TY programme within a broad set of parameters. Some schools view it as an additional academic year of senior cycle; but most schools design it to allow students express themselves and develop and explore new talents.

Will Transition Year benefit me?

The question that all 3^rd year students and parents struggle with at this time of year is: ‘Will TY be beneficial to me?’  I feel there are a number of factors determining the success of Transition year for a given student. These include how well the school structures it, the enthusiasm the student has for the programme and how much they buy into it, and the level of variety in the programme, to name but a few.

There is no doubt that if a student does immerse themselves in TY, they can benefit greatly both from a social and developmental point of view. As is evident from the quote above from this former TY, students are engaged in a range of different activities compared to the more academic Junior Cycle. As a teacher, it is easy to spot the 6^th year students who have completed TY, as opposed to those who went straight into 5^th year. Aside from the obvious fact that students look a year older, they are much more confident in themselves and are a few more steps down the road to maturity than their counterparts. In my experience, this is especially pertinent to boys.

My Top Forty Benefits of doing Transition Year

Listed below are my top forty benefits (in no particular order) that a student may gain by opting for TY. Hopefully it will allow you to make an informed decision if you are a parent or a 3^rd year in the process of deciding to opt for it or not. 1^st and 2^nd Years can also have a read of these to get them thinking about their options post Junior Cycle.

1.  It is an opportunity to mature especially if you are younger than your classmates
2. You get a taste of working in everyday jobs in Industry and services
3. You are given more licence to show and develop your individual personality
4. Your confidence around meeting and dealing with people will improve greatly
5. You may get to experience a trip to another country
6. You may get to sample activities you wouldn’t normally e.g. sports, music, or drama
7. You will be involved in outdoor experiences beneficial to fitness and mental health
8. The friends you make in TY often turn into lasting relationships
9. You will be allowed time to reflect and think about possible future careers
10. You will get an opportunity to research courses and third level options
11. You will get more of an opportunity to work in a team during activities
12. You will feel part of a group, which may have not been the case at Junior Cycle
13. Having an Identity (being a TY) will increase and enhance your personal self-worth
14. You will learn to think more independently and listen to instructions better
15. You may discover new talents and skills through engagement in new activities
16. It should inspire you to take on more responsibility in Senior Cycle
17. It will give you time to select the subjects that suit you for Senior Cycle
18. You will get an opportunity to express yourself more with an expanded curriculum
19. You may get an option to sample new subjects. e.g. Home Ec or Woodwork etc
20. You may get a chance to visit places of cultural significance e.g. Museums or Gallery’s
21. You may get opportunities to accomplish certs. e.g. Gaisce, Driving, ICT or First Aid
22. You will learn research skills and how to approach employers for work experience
23. You will get a chance to create, enhance and develop the quality of your CV
24. You may get to experience debating, which will help your public speaking confidence
25. You may be lucky enough that your school is involved in a TY exchange programme
26. There won’t be as much academic pressure on you during this year
27. You will have more time to join school groups e.g. student council, sports council etc
28. You will be more mature and a year older heading into senior cycle
29. More experiential learning during the year will mean more hands on and more fun
30. You may attend workshops or talks e.g. Drugs, Alcohol or Community groups
31. You may do a career matching or aptitude test to discover potential career paths
32. Students may be involved in setting up mini companies (great for teamwork)
33. Teachers will be more open to exploring what you are personally Interested in
34. Students may get opportunities to enter local enterprise competitions
35. You will still work on academic subjects and can continue to develop your knowledge
36. You can investigate what type of learner you are (useful going into Senior Cycle)
37. You will leave TY with a whole new set of skills and experiences to kick start your CV
38. At the end of TY, you will be more mature and ready to make better future decisions
39. TY’s often tell me that it was their most enjoyable and rewarding year in Secondary
40. The fun, the bonding, the laughs, and the treasured relationships.

If this is the route you are heading in September 2022, good luck with Transition Year. Joe

To view last week’s feature article on ‘Choosing Subjects for 5th Year’, Click here.

More details about Joe as a Maths Tutor for Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate (2022) and his Award Winning ACE Maths Solution Books can be found via the links below.

ACE Maths Classes: acesolutionbooks.com/ace-maths-tuition

ACE Maths Solution Books: acesolutionbooks.com/buy-my-books

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Photo: @ZhangChaosheng