THE TRANSITION YEAR THE TRANSITION YEAR PROGRAMMEPROGRAMME

Virginia CollegeVirginia College

Thursday, 14 March 2011Thursday, 14 March 2011

Mr. Michael Duffy Mr. Michael Duffy

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

One year programmeOne year programme Bridges the transition from JC to LCBridges the transition from JC to LC Encourages personal/social Encourages personal/social

development and independencedevelopment and independence Development of a wide range of Development of a wide range of

transferable skillstransferable skills Fosters academic achievementFosters academic achievement

PROGRAMME STRUCTUREPROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Each school devises its own Each school devises its own timetabled programme to cater for timetabled programme to cater for the needs of its studentsthe needs of its students

Essentially the Transition Year Essentially the Transition Year programme in Virginia College programme in Virginia College

offers students a broad and balanced offers students a broad and balanced curriculum curriculum

LAYER ONELAYER ONE

Core Subject LayerCore Subject Layer::

EnglishEnglish IrishIrish MathematicsMathematics ScienceScience

LAYER TWOLAYER TWO

Subject Sampling LayerSubject Sampling Layer::

Spanish/German/FrenchSpanish/German/French Creative DesignCreative Design Hotel, Catering and TourismHotel, Catering and Tourism Music and DramaMusic and Drama Graphics and ConstructionGraphics and Construction EngineeringEngineering

LAYER THREELAYER THREE

Modules specifically designed for TYPModules specifically designed for TYP:: First AidFirst Aid Drive for Life and Road SafetyDrive for Life and Road Safety Health and LifestyleHealth and Lifestyle Health and HygieneHealth and Hygiene Water Safety Skills Bronze AwardWater Safety Skills Bronze Award GAA Coaching and Referee AwardGAA Coaching and Referee Award Peer Educators ProgrammePeer Educators Programme Choose Safety ProgrammeChoose Safety Programme

LAYER FOURLAYER FOUR

Calendar EventsCalendar Events:: Lourdes Diocesan PilgrimageLourdes Diocesan Pilgrimage Co. Enterprise Board AwardsCo. Enterprise Board Awards Work ExperienceWork Experience Theatre Trip/PantomimeTheatre Trip/Pantomime Tain Adventure CentreTain Adventure Centre RetreatRetreat Pumpkin FestivalPumpkin Festival Visiting Speakers from Gardai, Concern…Visiting Speakers from Gardai, Concern… French ExchangeFrench Exchange

ASSESSMENTASSESSMENT

Integral part of the teaching and learning Integral part of the teaching and learning processprocess

All aspects of the programme are assessedAll aspects of the programme are assessed Variety of techniques:Variety of techniques:

project work, portfolios, aurals, written project work, portfolios, aurals, written tests, practicals, exhibitions, oral tests, practicals, exhibitions, oral presentations, worksheets, diariespresentations, worksheets, diaries

Self AssessmentSelf Assessment

CERTIFICATIONCERTIFICATION

Department of Education and Department of Education and Science’s certificate of participationScience’s certificate of participation

Virginia College’s certificateVirginia College’s certificate

Additionally certified courses such as Additionally certified courses such as First Aid, Gaisce, Bronze Award, First Aid, Gaisce, Bronze Award, Drive for Life, Young Scientist of the Drive for Life, Young Scientist of the Year, Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Cert…Year, Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Cert…

BENEFITSBENEFITS

Transition Year can help students:Transition Year can help students:

Discover more about their personal Discover more about their personal strengthsstrengths

Develop maturity and self-confidenceDevelop maturity and self-confidence Build interpersonal and team skillsBuild interpersonal and team skills Develop entrepreneurial skillsDevelop entrepreneurial skills Explore the working worldExplore the working world Achieve improved Leaving Certificate Achieve improved Leaving Certificate

resultsresults

ResearchResearch

There is growing evidence that There is growing evidence that students who have taken the students who have taken the Transition Year Programme are more Transition Year Programme are more self-reliant learners when they enter self-reliant learners when they enter third-level education than their peersthird-level education than their peers

((Source: Commission on the Points System, Final Source: Commission on the Points System, Final Report & Recommendations, 1999. P46)Report & Recommendations, 1999. P46)

RESEARCH FINDINGSRESEARCH FINDINGS

National Council for Curriculum and National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (1994)Assessment (1994)

The Economic and Social Research The Economic and Social Research Institute (2004)Institute (2004)