Getting their chance to grow

SCHOOL LEAVERS PROGRAMME:Some schools, such as those for students with special needs, which don't run TY programmes are finding creative ways to help their students get work experience

TRANSITION YEAR is widely seen as a chance for students to develop their personal abilities. It’s a time for them to learn more about who they are, where they are, and the kind of person they would like to be. Not every post-primary school, however, is in a position to offer a TY programme. Some have dropped TY due to budget cuts. Others find that their unique circumstances make TY an unsuitable option for their students.

New Court School in Bray, Co Wicklow and St Anthony’s in Castlebar, Co Mayo are schools for children with mild learning difficulties. New Court is one of 240 schools nationwide offering the Junior Certificate Schools Programme, specially devised to make the Junior Certificate Programme more accessible. More able students sit the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme, while others participate in a School Leavers programme.

St Anthony’s, meanwhile, runs Fetac Level One and Two and School Leavers programmes for its students. Neither school offers a TY programme, but both are keen to integrate some of the innovative aspects of TY – such as work experience – into their curriculum.

Hilary Conway teaches the School Leavers programme at New Court. “We focus on developing social and life skills,” she explains. “The students participating in the school leavers programme are less academic than students who take the LCA programme. They learn skills like planning and preparing a meal, using services such as the bank, buses or post office, and how to live independently. They also work on social maths, with an emphasis on time and money. Leisure and recreation form a major part of the school week, with the students going to the gym, swimming, walking, or taking part in other outdoor pursuits.”

The one-year Leavers programme has a great deal of flexibility. Designed around the students rather than fitting into a particular curriculum, special schools can integrate some of the best aspects of TY into their school day. This year, for instance, New Court participated in the Link Community Development programme along with several TY groups around Ireland.

“The programmes are quite demanding from a teaching point of view and require a lot of staff input,” says Dan Buckley, principal of New Court. “We hope to maintain our staff in order to continue offering these programmes.”

Fiona Byrne is principal of St Anthony’s school. “We cater for 40 children with mild learning difficulties aged four to 18, although some of our students may later be diagnosed with moderate learning difficulties,” she explains. “Our Fetac programmes provide the students with basic numeracy, literary and personal skills. There’s a focus on communications, relaxation, cookery and woodwork, and we hope to introduce horticulture with a sensory garden. We also provide physical education, home economics, and music classes.”

ST ANTHONY’S does not offer Transition Year, but Byrne sees a similar flexibility in its School Leavers programme. “Our students have gone out in the community, undertaken work experience, and planned their own trip from Castlebar to the Titanic exhibition in Citywest, Dublin. They also get to visit the National Learning Network and training centres to help them decide their path after school.”

Alice, a student at New Court, is due to sit the Leaving Certificate Applied exam later this year. “I’m really enjoying this programme,” she says. “I’ve had work experience in two local creches, because I’m interested

in a career in childcare when I leave school. I’ve also spent a week in Avoca Handweavers, waitressing and working in the kitchen, and I had a week at the National Learning Network, which helps people get work and develop their skills after school.”

Alice feels the work experience has given her a taste of different jobs, but is particularly keen to pursue childcare.

“I love minding kids, and I’ve always liked it. I don’t even mind the dirty work involved,” she says.