Transition Year

Overview of Transition Year:

Transition Year in St Raphaela’s is a voluntary one-year programme of study between Junior and Senior Cycle for students who have completed their Junior Cycle education. It provides a bridge to Senior Cycle studies, while introducing students to a wide range of new experiences in an original and stimulating way. Our TY Programme offers students a unique opportunity to grow academically, personally, and socially. Rooted in the spirit of St Raphaela Mary, our programme recognises the value of personal development and fosters learning opportunities where students can flourish and meaningfully engage with the school and wider community.

Our students choose Transition Year because they feel they need a change of emphasis after the rigours of the Junior Cycle. Our programme offers the potential for the holistic development of students as flexible learners, active citizens, and future workers. It is an interdisciplinary programme with an emphasis on personal development, social awareness and increased social competence. The Transition Year programme is constantly evolving to meet the needs of our young people.

Our TY Programme is fully aligned with the Transition Year Programme Statement developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. This statement provides national guidance for TY implementation and outlines the rationale, aims and dimensions that underpin an effective TY programme. The TYPS can be accessed here.

Our Transition Year is designed to;

• Foster holistic development and personal growth
• Provide meaningful learning experiences across academic and non-academic domains
• Encourage independence, responsibility, and confidence
• Support students in exploring future pathways and lifelong learning
• Promote active citizenship and community engagement
• To provide students with the skills necessary to develop their talents and abilities
• To encourage students to become more independent and to recognise the responsibility that comes with greater freedom
• To help students understand their educational needs and encourage confidence and motivation for Senior Cycle and the Leaving Certificate

Transition Year Subjects & Modules:

In Transition Year, we build on the learning from Junior Cycle through core and continuity subjects, while offering a diverse range of new and exciting modules. These are delivered through year-long subjects, rotational modules, and specialised workshops, all carefully designed to support the holistic development of students. Our TY Programme is structured around the four Student Dimensions as outlined in the TYPS. The dimensions of Personal Growth, Being a Learner, Civic & Community Engagement and Career Exploration are embedded across all subjects/modules, and TY Experiences/Events to ensure students develop knowledge, key competencies, values and dispositions.

Students will also follow the International Computer Driving License programme to obtain a widely recognised qualification in computer skills. We offer a range of activities and trips and welcome speakers on a range of topics. All students participate in The President’s Gaisce Award and achieve the Gaisce Bronze medal.

Our continuity subjects are English, Siamsa, Maths, Spanish/French, Japanese, Religion, Portfolio, S.P.H.E., and Career Guidance.

Students also do a rotation of Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Health & Fitness, ICDL, Coding, Needlework, Art, Home Economics, Tourism/Outreach, Jesuit Refugee Programme, Enterprise, History, Geography, Green Schools, Social Education, Mindfulness, Yoga, Dance Fitness, Sailing/Skiing, Drama, First Aid, Music, Fencing, Irish Sign Language, Politics & Society, Sustainability, Public Speaking, Community Care, and Media Studies.

Transition Year Events:

Our TY calendar is rich with workshops, trips, events, activities and immersive experiences that bring the Student Dimensions to life. Some of these include; Airfield Estate, Radio Workshop, School of Improvisation, Haircare Workshop, Wellness Retreat, Cyber Safety & Digital Citizenship, Forensics Workshop, TY RDS World Skills, The Shona Project, Driving Workshop, Barista Induction, Cinema & Theatre Outings, Photography Workshop, Kayaking, Golf Workshop, etc.

Alongside the subjects and workshops, we also provide some memorable experiences that are hugely beneficial. Every year the Transition Year students put on a school musical production with the TY students of St. Benildus College. We have collaborated with St Benildus College to create a year-long module dedicated specifically to the TY Musical, covering performance, dialogue, stage design, costume design, audio-visual development, and programme development, etc. The students will get a first-hand experience in what it takes to organise a big production and will learn the importance of collective joint efforts of a shared vision.

The students complete three weeks’ work experience which provides many insights into the outside work environment as well as giving students an opportunity to work in areas of personal interest.

There are trips that feature in the TY calendar annually. Students engage in a bonding trip to Causey Farm, Gaisce Overnight Hike, a three-day trip to Delphi Adventure Centre and the year concludes with finale trip. In addition, assistance will be given to students interested in a language trip/exchange to Spain, France and Japan.

Transition Year Opportunities:

All students in Transition Year participate in The President’s Gaisce Award, working towards the Bronze Medal by completing personal, physical, and community challenges. A strong emphasis is placed on volunteering and civic responsibility, reflecting the ethos of St. Raphaela Mary and the Civic & Community Engagement dimension of the TY Programme Statement. In addition to dedicated modules such as Community Care, Social Education, and the Jesuit Refugee Programme, students are actively encouraged to take part in voluntary initiatives. These include events such as Children In Hospital's Giving Tree Event, St Vincent de Paul's Letter Donations, Lollipop Day in support of the Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF), and the Hope Foundation’s Week of Hope, which involves chocolate sales and bucket collections. These experiences foster empathy, social awareness, and a lifelong commitment to making a positive impact in the community.

Transition Year students are actively encouraged to pursue additional opportunities that extend their learning beyond the classroom and support the development of key competencies across the Student Dimensions. These experiences foster independence, leadership, and academic curiosity. Students may choose to participate in a variety of national competitions and enrichment programmes such as the AILO Linguistics Olympiad, TY Playwright Competition, Rotary Club Leadership Competition and TY specific programmes such as the Houses of the Oireachtas TY Programme, European Youth Parliament, DLR TY Entrepreneurial STEM Camp, and the DCU Early Entrance Programme. These opportunities allow students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and engage with real-world contexts in meaningful and challenging ways.

Transition Year Assessment:

Transition Year at St. Raphaela’s offers students the freedom to engage with learning in a meaningful and enjoyable way, without the pressure of state examinations. Assessment is primarily formative and reflective, focusing on student engagement, effort, and personal growth.
Students are assessed across all subjects and modules through a credit-based system. Credits are awarded each term based on participation, performance, and contribution. Assessment takes place every quarter term, and students receive regular feedback and reports. In addition to subject/module assessments, students complete a digital portfolio, a mid-year interview, and an end-of-year reflection. Credits are also awarded for involvement in additional opportunities such as competitions, workshops, and voluntary initiatives. Each student maintains a digital portfolio throughout the year, documenting their learning, achievements, and reflections. This is supported by a weekly guided portfolio development class, where students are encouraged to set goals, review progress, and prepare for interviews and presentations.

Transition Year Reporting, Recognising & Celebrating:

Student achievement is a central part of our TY Programme. Throughout the year, students are recognised for their contributions, progress, and engagement across academic, personal, and community domains. Achievements are celebrated through differents modes such as TY-specific ceremonies, individual feedback, regular media posts, and termly reports. Recognition takes place within individual subjects and modules, and students may receive Student Achievement Awards for outstanding effort, creativity, leadership, or participation. The year concludes with a Graduation Ceremony in May, where students are presented with a formal Record of Achievement. Additional awards are given for academic excellence, portfolio quality, Gaisce completion, and TY Student of the Year. These celebrations highlight the growth and success of each student and mark the culmination of a transformative year.

As a result of having done Transition Year, our students emerge from TY feeling more confident, mature, and prepared for Senior Cycle from having developed essential life skills, gaining clarity on subject and career choices, and forming new friendships. TY fosters a sense of responsibility, independence, and enthusiasm for lifelong learning.

4.4 Perspective of Transition Year Term 2 in St. Raphaela's:

4.4 have really enjoyed Term 2 of Transition Year in St. Raphaela’s, with lots of fun subjects, trips, workshops and events to take part in!

A new term means more new subjects to try out. This involved singing and creating harmonies in Choir, acting out role plays and playing games in Drama, learning about Japanese culture through different genres of Japanese cinema and carrying out exciting experiments in Chemistry. We even got the chance to learn how to communicate with a whole community of people with our Irish Sign Language module!

This term, 4.4 have gotten to take part in some great workshops, for example, a walking photography workshop of town where we learned how to take professional looking pictures. We also had great fun creating our own comedy sketches while learning about the art of cinematography in our School of Improv workshop!

During Term 2, our 4.4 class was involved in a variety of trips, activities and experiences. A number of students participated in the Hope Foundation's bucket collection in town, where students raised money and awareness for underprivileged children in Kolkata, India. We also visited the Trojan Gymnastics club where we got to learn new skills. The French students explored French culture at the Alliance French School, where they took part in lessons and activities.

For the annual TY Think Languages Event, the whole class displayed the culture our given country, Poland and we celebrated Polish heritage showcasing traditional homemade foods, teaching dances, and a quiz. We also got to take part in activities from other classes and celebrate more cultures. We had the annual TY Christmas Quiz with St Benildus, with festive games and dances, followed by an ice skating trip with the St Benildus later on in the week. We also had great learning experiences as we all took part in two weeks of work experience.

Overall, Term 2 was a great term filled with diverse learning experiences and some community engagement. We did lots of fun things and look forward to the next term.

4.1 Perspective of Transition Year Term 1 in St. Raphaela's: