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Transition Year - a broad educational experience

Transition Year offered by a number of Irish schools allows pupils (aged circa 15 years old) to acquire a broad educational experience with a view to the attainment of increased maturity. It takes place after having completed the Junior cycle (lower secondary) and before proceeding to further study and/or vocational preparation. It provides a bridge to help pupils make the transition from a highly-structured environment of the Junior cycle to one where they will take greater responsibility for their own learning and decision making.
NCCA website: Transition Year
NCCA website: Transition Year

During the Transition year pupils participate in learning strategies which are active and experiential and which help them to develop a range of transferable critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.

The Transition Year should also provide an opportunity for pupils to reflect on and develop an awareness of the value of education and training in preparing them for the ever-changing demands of the adult world of work and relationships. Its mission is to promote the personal, social, educational and vocational development of pupils and to prepare them for their role as autonomous, participative, and responsible members of society.

The aims and philosophy of Transition Year should permeate the entire school. Schools providing Transition Year programmes have responsibility for setting appropriate goals and defining the objectives necessary for their achievement.

The schools should involve parents, work providers and the wider community as educational partners in all aspects of the programme and ensure efficient and effective delivery of the programme.

Further reading

Additional information

  • Evidence:
    N/A
  • Funding source:
    Local funding
  • Intervention level:
    Universal
  • Intervention intensity:
    Periodic
  • Participating countries:
    Ireland
  • Target audience:
    Head Teacher / Principal
    Student Teacher
    Teacher
    Teacher Educator
  • Target audience ISCED:
    Lower secondary education (ISCED 2)
    Upper secondary education (ISCED 3)