Transition Year

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Transition Year" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. (October 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Transition Year (TY) (Irish: Idirbhliain) is an optional one-year school programme that can be taken in the year after the Junior Cycle in Ireland. However, depending on school population and funding it may not be available, and in other schools it is compulsory. For the most part the year is designed around giving students life skills, incorporating a work experience programme. There are also many trips available to the students, foreign and local, aimed at giving a more hands-on aspect to learning.

Transition Year was introduced as a pilot project in September 1974, but it was not until September 1994 that the programme was introduced mainstream. Transition Year is not examined, but rather is assessed (i.e. no written exams), and is intended to be a broad educational experience which assists in the transition from the school environment by encouraging creativity and responsibility for oneself. Approximately 75% of second-level schools offer the programme^[1] and it consists of both education and work experience. Schools generally set admissions criteria and design the programme based on local needs in accordance with departmental guidelines.

The year focuses on many non-academic subjects, such as life skills including first aid, cooking, self-defence, driving and typing. A lot of sport goes on, with many different types including: rock-climbing, hill-walking, horse-riding, sailing, kayaking and orienteering. Voluntary work is a requirement in many schools, with students helping out in local communities and charities. There are many programmes aimed at TY students such as Student Enterprise^[2] and Young Social Innovators (YSI).^[3]

Students in TY are also encouraged to take part in various competitions and programmes outside the school; these include BT Young Scientist,^[4] Gaisce: The President's Award^[5] and Junk Kouture.^[6] Many schools use TY as an opportunity to give their students different experiences by organising foreign exchanges, putting on school musicals, etc.