Transition Year in Manor House School
Transition Year in Manor House School acts as a transition space between Junior and Senior Cycles to help students adapt to a rapidly changing, globalised world. We aim to tailor our curriculum to student needs and community contexts. TY in Manor house is a compulsory year long programme where we focus on building resilience and nursing personal growth through the four student dimensions set out in the new Transition Year Programme Statement (NCCA,2024)
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Personal Growth & Development:Building self-confidence, emotional maturity, empathy, interpersonal skills, and personal well-being.We observe this when pupils voice opinions in debates, work respectfully in changing peer groups, and take ownership of their own behaviour or group dynamics.
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Personal Well-being: Public speaking, mental health workshops, and outdoor team-building retreats (e.g., Delphi or Killary adventure centres).
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Being a Learner:Developing independent study habits, active problem-solving, self-reflection, and encouraging critical thinking skills.We see students setting individual learning goals, using digital tools creatively, and treating mistakes as part of the learning process rather than failures.
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Civic and Community Engagement:Engaging with local communities, volunteering, understanding social responsibilities, and becoming active citizens.Promoting responsible citizenship and social awareness. We see this when the students advocate for sustainability, organise school events, or plan group initiatives.
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Volunteering & Social Care:Community Action placement(e.g., CASA, meals on wheels, working with animal shelters, or tidy towns),
Assessment and Certification details
Students are assessed throughout the year in a variety of ways – November and Summer examinations, written and practical assignments, oral and aural assessments, projects, Work Experience employers reports and reports from Community Action placements and completion of their Portfolio. The portfolio is a permanent, personal record where students collect evidence of their work, activities, and self-reflection throughout their TY programme.
There is a Credit system which is used to record the positive, evaluate overall progress, and engagement in their modules and non-academic subjects. At Graduation students will be awarded a Certificate of Participation in TY at Distinction, Higher Merit, Merit or Pass level.Students also receive a variety of certificates acknowledging their participation and achievements in various activities such as charitable work, Enterpriseetc during the year. A ‘Spirit of TY’ award and awards for various subjects and sports will also be presented.
Non-academic subjects and modules
In TY in Manor Housethe base class does not have the same implications as it does in Junior Cycle. The student is only in her base class for 7 periods out of 28 periods each week and they are the non-academic subjects as listed below plus English.In Junior Cycle, students spend three years tightly bound to the same base class. Changing these groupings for TY moves students out of established comfort zones and clicks.
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It integrates the entire year group, allowing students who may have never spoken to interact, collaborate on group projects, and form new friendships.
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Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)
Sports Nutrition (with St. Paul’s C.)
Construction Studies (St. Paul’s C.)
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EPAS-European Parliament Ambassadors Schools Programme
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The TY fee includes an amenities fee to cover cost of School Insurance, Photocopying, Examinations etc. The balance covers entry fees for trips; costs incurred with workshops and guest speakers (e.g. Self Defence, First Aid, Ice skating, Driver Education etc.) on the planned calendar. As Transition Year is a compulsory element in Manor House school all students are expected to pay these expenses. Below is an example of some of the experiences and activities that are covered by the TY Fee.
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Shine Festival/Cycle Against Suicide RDS
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Other optional opportunities which arise incur an additional cost e.g. Bonding trip (open to all) to Killary Adventure Centre, subject specific trips etc.
We offer 1 or 2 optional trips abroad on our Transition Year programme, in response to the interest shown in these trips in previous years and at the request of parents and students in Junior Cycle. Students have the option to apply to go on a Ski Trip to Norway/Switzerland and /or the Border Hopping Trip. Only students whose amenities fees are paid in full can be offered a place on these trips.
If you would like to contact the TY Coordinator, Siobhán Ní Mhuíneacháin please do so at: -