Transition Year is an optional one-year programme that forms the first year of the Senior Cycle Programme, available to all students after completing their Junior Cycle examinations. TY aims to help students make the transition from a highly structured environment to one where they are expected to take greater personal responsibility for their own decision-making and development of skills. This is achieved in Ardscoil Rís by offering a broad and varied programme free from the pressure of Certificate Examinations.
Building on their Junior Cycle experience, students begin to develop as Senior Cycle learners, exploring strategies that work best for them, while focusing on personal growth, civic engagement, and career readiness. Over the course of the year, students develop socially and emotionally, learning about health and well-being, autonomy, empathy, and leadership. They also make a positive impact on their communities, while gaining valuable workplace experience and exploring future career pathways.
The programme is split into four layers:
Over the course of the year, students engage in over 30 modules ranging from English to Maths, from Biology to History, and from Portuguese to Korean. We regularly change and update the modules on offer to maintain a fresh and relevant programme each year. On top of their modules, students engage in many workshop activities and events such as reptile workshops, podcasting production, drivers’ education, law education, coding, critical thinking workshops, Barista workshops, Bodhrán making, trips around Dublin, museum and gallery visits, and many other activities that help them to develop their interpersonal and communication skills.
Each student has exclusive access to a Chromebook for the duration of the programme, which will aid in developing their digital literacy skills throughout the year. In the Computer Applications and Coding modules, students explore various areas of computer literacy, including coding, digital design, and robotics. A key part of the programme involves learning how to code robots, helping students develop both practical and theoretical knowledge in this growing field.
Transition Year students have undertaken a variety of work experiences with organisations such as the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, PwC, William Fry, MiniMed, and the Law Society of Ireland, to name just a few. Students are free to choose their own placements, giving them the opportunity to explore different fields, gather valuable skills, and develop a clearer understanding of their future career paths.
TY is also a time for your son to engage in many extra initiatives such as the Gaisce President’s Award, national competitions such as the Young Scientist, Formula 1 for Schools and the EU Model Council at Dublin Castle, work experience opportunities, and in-house activities such as the Students’ Council or the YearBook Committee.
For further information, you can see the parents’ presentation on TY here:
Ardscoil Rís,
Griffith Avenue,
Dublin 9,
D09 AK30
App
