TY Video 2020/2021 Highlights (click here)

In Lusk CC, Transition Year is an optional programme taken between the Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate, which students can apply for in 3rd Year. The guiding philosophy of the Transition Year Curriculum is that pupils should be encouraged to mature and to adopt increasing responsibility for their own future. To these ends, the curriculum will aim to introduce pupils to methods of study appropriate for Leaving Certificate and beyond, while encouraging them to become more responsible for their own progress. It will also aim to provide a sound academic basis for beginning the Leaving Certificate programme.
Transition Year in Lusk CC is a vibrant and creative programme which offers our students an opportunity to grow, develop and mature. We achieve this by placing an emphasis on:

• Education for maturity and personal development, including social competence
• The promotion of general, technical, and academic skills with a focus on interdisciplinary and self-directed learning
• Education through experience of adult and working life as a basis for personal development and maturity

The TY Curriculum
The TY programme is made up of core subjects and modules. The students rotate through modules throughout the year to ensure they get to try them all. Below is a list of the core and modular subjects for the academic year 2021/2022.
Core subjects

• Maths
• English
• Irish
• Language (French/Spanish)
• Business
• SPHE
• Young Social Innovators
• Psychology
• Physical Education & Wellbeing
• Microsoft Office Specialist
• Musical

Modular subjects

• Drama
• Media
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Agricultural Science
• History
• Music Technology
• Tourism
• Construction
• Development Education
• Art
• Journalism
• Computer Science

​Assessment
Assessment is an integral part of the teaching and learning process in Transition Year, but it follows a different format to that seen in Junior Cycle. Students are marked based on a credit system. These credits are awarded for completion of their work in each subject, their work experience, their personal portfolio, and their end of year interview.

Portfolio:
The TY portfolio is individual to each student and is a record of everything they have completed during their year. The portfolio includes evidence and reflection on all areas od study and learning engaged in during the year and incorporates a wide range of personal qualities. It should include:

• Evaluation of all subjects and modules with evidence of work
• Work experience evaluations
• Trip evaluations
• Guest speaker evaluations
• Workshop evaluations
• Reflection on their year and what they have learned about themselves

End of Year Interview:
At the end of the year, students are interviewed about their experiences during the year, and their portfolio provides an evidence-based approach to assigning credits as well as informing the content of the interview.
An award of Pass, Merit, Higher Merit, and Distinction will be made based on all the assessment methods.
A formal presentation of TY Certificates takes place on the Transition Year Graduation night. At this night extra awards for outstanding work throughout the year are also awarded.

Work Experience
One of the main aims of Transition Year is to prepare the students for adult and working life. Students in TY engage in one full day of work experience per week. In order to gain as much experience as possible, students need to organise at least two different placements for the year; one placement September to Christmas, and a different placement from January to May.
It is the students’ responsibility to find a placement of value in an area which interests them from a career point of view. Community involvement and volunteering in an organisation are encouraged as an appropriate and worthwhile work experience opportunity. Students will be provided with contact details of possible placements where students have gone before. This gives students a good starting point.
In some limited instances employers may only be able to offer a week block of work experience. Where these placements are of a high value to the students’ career choices the student may submit an application to the Transition Year Coordinator for permission to be released for a week. This must be done in advance and will only be granted in certain circumstances.

​Activities
Each year students get the chance to attend numerous workshops and trips as part of their Transition Year. Below is a list some of the activities our 2021/2022 will have completed by the end of their year:

Trips:

• Malahide Castle
• St Anne’s Park
• Bay Sports
• Cinema
• Dublin Zoo
• Gaisce overnight at Lough Dan
• Lilliput Adventure Centre

Guest speakers:

• Business Enterprise Talk
• Wish Leaders Talk
• Simon Community Talk
• Gaisce Talk
• DSPCA Talk
• Irish Guide Dogs Talk
• Shona Programme

Workshops:

• Dance workshop
• Taekwondo
• Teamworks
• Guards
• Tinpot productions
• Rugby
• One Big Idea Workshop
• Soar Workshop
• iWish
• First Aid
• Driver Education
• Shout Out
• Fighting Words