The student is at the centre of the Transition Year Programme which has been painstakingly designed and is enthusiastically implemented by the College staff.

The aims of the Schull Community College Transition Year:

To develop a sense of confidence, maturity and responsibility in the student.

To lay the foundation for the student’s future academic career and entry to the workforce.

To endeavor to help the student to achieve his/her potential in all areas of life outside school.

To establish a stronger sense of community involvement in each student through active participation in community projects.

The Transition Year Curriculum

Core Subjects

IRISH, ENGLISH, MATHS, FRENCH and/or GERMAN
(Four/five classes per week) (Three classes per week)

Religious Education, Physical Education, Computers (Two classes per week)

Optional Leaving Certificate Subjects taken in Transition Year

Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Engineering
Art
History
Geography
Accounting
Business Studies
Construction Studies
Social & Scientific
Agricultural Science

(Two classes per week – for 7 weeks)

Modules/Other Subjects

* First Aid
–Develops student knowledge of basic first aid (eg. recovery position, arm slings administering basic life support, mouth to mouth resuscitation, C.P.R. etc…)

* Gaisce
– The President’s Award. Students undertake challenges in the areas of physical recreation, personal skill, community involvement and an adventure journey.

*Community Development
Care in the Community focusing on the elderly and
community participation.
Environmental awareness, Recycling all school waste and collaboration on projects with Schull Tidy Towns Committee

*Enterprise Education.
– Cork Schools Enterprise Programme (www.corkschoolsenterprise.com)

* Road Safety Module
– Develops awareness of road safety including fatality rates
– Basic driving skills
– Road Safety presentation by local Gardai
* Work Experience
– Prepares students for four weeks of work experience in a wide range of work placements
– Educates students on the principals of health and safety in the work place

*Careers
–Students are assisted in understanding the implications of how specific subject choices could impact on the range of career options available to them in the future

* Leadership Skills Module
– The aim of this module is to help students identify and develop the characteristics of a good leader. It examines case studies of great leaders ,both past and present. Students participate in team-building activities to develop their leadership skills.

* Development Education Module
-This module supports students who want to explore the global development issues that affect our world. It will help them develop the skills necessary to affect positive change in their own lives and also to see their actions as part of a wider change for a more just world.

* St. Vincent de Paul Youth for Justice Project
– This project is about inspiring young people to understand and take action on social justice in their own local area. It is about providing students with the opportunity to help other people in their community in practical ways: ways that make a difference to the lives of the many people who experience isolation, loneliness or poverty in Ireland today.

*Friends of the Elderly Programme
– This programme gives students planned activities that allow them to engage with older people in the community in a meaningful way.

* Young Social Innovators
–This programme encourages, motivates and creates new opportunities for students to actively participate in the world around them, developing their innate sense of justice, responsibility and passion to create a fairer, more caring and equal society.

*Film Studies and Production
-This module includes film appreciation, script writing, acting, film production and film editing
At the end of the year a dvd is made available to students with their completed film on it.

*Sailing
– Introduces Sailing to beginners
– Instructor’s courses for students sailing a few years
– Seamanship skills
– Basic navigation skills

*Design and Crafts Activities
–Students will design and create craft pieces, and will get introduced to the fundementals of design and Crafts from bried to concept to design of a piece. Then they will develop and realize the craft piece.
Students will engage with their local environment and will have the opportunites to work individually or as part of a group.

*Activities Module
–A module in self –defence, martial arts and general fitness.

*HASSAP
– Food safety module. Students achieive a level 2 Award awarded by the Institute of Environmental Inspectors. It is a minimum requirement for entry into food business

*3D CAD
–This course is designed to enhance student’s awareness and appreciation of design .The tasks included in the module provide students with opportunities to discuss, record and present their design opinions and observations. Key skills developed include sketching, 3D drawing using ”Solidworks” and design appreciation.

Some Facts on Transition Year

* Transition Year has been in existence in Ireland since 1974.

* In 2010, 560 Irish schools already offered Transition Year with many other schools beginning to offer Transition Year now.

* Research by university students has shown that those who had experienced Transition Year felt that the skills they had developed in Transition Year were of major benefit to them at university.

* Transition Year prepares students for life not just for the remaining two years in school.

* An NCCA longitudinal study in 1997 has shown that students who entered Transition Year in 1994 and sat the Leaving Cert Exam in 1997 achieved on average 26 points more than students who did not do Transition Year.(Repeat students only gain by an average of 5 points).