Transition year is a popular choice for students when they complete the Junior Certificate. Since its introduction in 1974, the programme has grown rapidly, now being offered at 75 per cent of schools nationwide. Teenagers are given the perfect opportunity to mature, acquire new skills, and gain both work and life experience. All well and good, but is it really a good idea?
As a transition year student myself at Garbally College in Ballinasloe, I can tell you that it’s an amazing experience only if you participate and are willing to try new things. The programme gives students an opportunity to gain practical work experience during the enjoyable year. This provides students with an understanding into the real working world. One fifth year student at Garbally who completed TY last year says: “Work experience is definitely a great opportunity for students to see what their choice of career might be like, to get to learn new skills, and to get out of the classroom for a while too.”
As well as that, transition year helps teenagers to mature, grow up, and build confidence. The extra year gives students, who might have struggled to succeed in the first three years at second-level education, the perfect opportunity to restart and become mature young adults. Students can also effectively improve their core skills in communication and teamwork. Many schools around Ireland provide public speaking and debating competitions to TY students all year round. Garbally College is one of them. “The debates give students the opportunity to learn invaluable skills needed in life – research, critical thinking, and public speaking to name a few,” says one English teacher at Garbally. Many activities in transition year tend to emphasise on friendship and teamwork. Students can make new friends and build on current friendships through trips away and enjoyable activities.
Furthermore, transition year gives students a year to relax before commencing the Leaving Certificate cycle. In addition, you will have more time to think about your senior cycle subjects and college choices. Many schools allow students to try out several subjects during the course of the year in order to get a taste of what subjects they are interested in. Students also have more time to decide whether to do higher or ordinary level for mathematics or Irish in the Leaving Cert. My maths teacher, along with my TY co-ordinator, both recall one incredible student in transition year last year who undertook ordinary maths initially, then he progressed to middle-tier, and finally proceeded to higher level maths by the end of his TY year. That student, who is now in fifth year, has continued to take on higher level maths, which is an amazing accomplishment.
While there is a plethora of benefits to completing transition year, a minority of students are merely not suited to the vast one-year programme and are less likely to benefit from the year. Students must be ready to put in the effort into partaking in activities and have a positive viewpoint if they want to get the most from transition year. There is no point in taking transition year if you despise school and cannot wait to get out into the real world.
My guidance counsellor, who concurrently runs the transition year programme at Garbally College, told a school assembly last summer that continuing directly to fifth year may be an option but must be considered carefully. By skipping transition year, you will doubtlessly be quite young taking the Leaving Certificate and going to third-level education, and you will therefore be less mature than most students across the country. Some students I spoke to describe the downside of the programme – the cost. “Transition year is great, but it does cost an awful lot of money which can put pressure on parents who may be struggling,” says one graduate at Garbally College who completed TY in 2019.
All in all, transition year is a fantastic idea if you make the effort to try new things and partake in the various activities that your school offers.
