Transition Year

Transition Year has been established since 1975 in Loreto Bray. It has grown from strength to strength over the years. In the early days only one class group did TY but now we have five class groups with an intake of 120-125 students. In Loreto Bray, Transition Year is not compulsory, but the majority of our students choose to do the year as they recognise the benefits..

TY Program Overview

The Transition Year program is designed to ‘promote the personal, social, educational and vocational development of the pupils, and to prepare them for their role as autonomous, participative and responsible members of society.’ In general Transition Year students attend school five days a week with 8/9 class periods per day. The routine is broken up when courses and outings are organised for the students and when they do work experience and community service.

TY Program Goals

Education for maturity and personal development
Development of improved self-confidence and self-reliance
Emphasis on Self-Directed Learning
Development of Social Conscience
Development of teamwork and leadership skills
Education through Experience of Adult and Working Life
Provision of a strong academic base as students move forward in the senior cycle
Provision of a varied curriculum with LC and non-LC subject modules

The TY Programme in Loreto, Bray

Subjects and modules

The Transition Year in every school is different. Our Transition Year Programme gives a solid academic base while also allowing students to explore a very interesting array of modules.

The Core subjects
The core subjects run for the entire year. These are Maths, Irish, English & a European Language. PE, Computer Studies, Career Guidance, Religion & Drama also run for the entire year but on a modular basis with a change of teacher with each module.

The Modular subjects
These subjects are taught as a taster for a 5/6 week module length. All students take all modules. The modules currently offered are :Film studies, History, Geography, Business studies, Economics, Biology, Chemistry, Forensic science, Physics, Nutrition, Cookery, Multimedia studies, World of work & preparation for work, Debating, Legal studies, Irish Culture, Chinese, Numeracy and literacy through board games, Sociology, Personal Development, Mindfulness, Ukulele, Samba Drumming, Childcare, Animal Welfare, Horticulture & Interior design.

The large-scale project

In addition each student must choose one of the following large-scale projects and must compete at a local or National Level with their projects.
Mini company – starting a business
YSI – Young Social Innovators – a project on social inclusion
Junk Kouture – create an outfit from recycled materials
Eco Unesco – environmental project

These activities include:

Workshops and seminars

Bonding, Retreat, First Aid course, Fighting words creative writing workshop, Matrix, Presentation skills & make-up course, Chinese activity day, IT is not for Geeks Seminar, Shoutout LGBTQ seminar, Songschool workshop, Radio-programming workshop & Poetry workshops. Photography, Advanced Photography and Driving Courses are organised at an extra cost.

Day trips

Ploughing championships
Foreign Language films in the Mermaid Theatre
Outdays to Glasnevin Cemetary and the Botanic Gardens, The Irish Aid centre & the Little Museum of Dublin and to Glendalough and the Mountain Rescue Centre, trip to Belfast.

Over-night trips

All Transition Year students go to Delphi Outdoor Adventure Centre, Co Mayo for a three-night overnight trip in late September. This serves as an excellent for the students to mix and to get to know each other and it allows students to face challenges that they would not ordinarily face.

Work Experience & Community Service

In order to extend the learning experience of students beyond the classroom they will each complete two weeks of work experience and one week of community service. These weeks are run in October, February and May. Our aim is education through experience of adult and working life as a basis for personal development and maturity.

If a student wishes to do an additional work experience placement or college course they must apply in writing to their Form Teacher at least two weeks prior the placement.

In addition to day to day classes, students also have a varied array of workshops, seminars and outings. These are run over a full or half day.

The TY Musical

The Musical has become a highlight of Transition year. The Musical is joint venture between Loreto Bray and Presentation College, Bray. All TY students are encouraged to audition for a part or to become involved in a backstage team in the TY Musical. In addition all TY students in Loreto participate in Drama and they put on a performance in the school in the summer term.

Gaisce

The Gaisce Bronze Award program is an important part of the TY Programme here in loreto Bray. To complete the program and to receive the bronze medal students must spend 13 weeks on the following 4 areas: Community Involvement, Personal Skill, Sporting Achievement and they must also organise and participate in a Venture Activity. A large number of our students complete the program and are awarded bronze medals.
Some of our students take on the Silver Award in TY which involves doing each of the categories above for a longer period of time. It is not generally possible to finish the Silver Award in one academic year.

Additional optional activities

Finally Transition Year students are encouraged and supported in their search for additional challenges. Students are encouraged to participate in the European Youth Parliament, to become involved in giving time to local charity organisations, to involving themselves with the school bank and to search out interesting additional work experiences and college courses.

Assessment of Transition Year students

Students have formal school exams in Irish, English, Maths and their chosen European Language. Each subject module is also assessed by project work, oral presentations, role plays etc. transition Year students also keep a portfolio of their work with reflections on all aspects of the programme.