Transition Year

The fourth year of a students life at Midleton College is the Transistion year after they have taken their first external exam the Junior Certificate Examination.

The Transition Year is constantly evolving. The main purpose behind it is to expose students to varying aspects of life that they might not otherwise have the opportunities to experience. While this is the primary objective, it is implemented in such a way as to continue with the students academic education. To do all the things that the pressure of exams do not allow in other years, as well as keeping the hard work and study going for the Leaving Cert Cycle that starts in 5th year.

The curriculum for the year involves all the subjects that are available at Leaving Certificate level. Students get the chance to taste each of these before they have to choose the subjects they wish to study for their Leaving Certificate. Towards the end of the year a number of periods are devoted to guidance concerning subject choices for the LC programme which commences the following academic year and to the options and subject combinations which are available. Next year it is hoped to introduce modules to futher broaden the experience of this valuable year.

The Transition Year begins with an induction night during which parents and students are given an idea of what activities will be undertaken during the year. A list of some of the activities are shown below.

Towards the end of the year an awards night takes place. This evening provides parents with an opportunity to view some of the work produced during the year and to hear accounts of activities their children have been involved in.

Project Work

Project work is an important part of the year with the following listing some some of the projects undertaken :-

• Mini Company
• Managing School Tuck Shop 
• Gaisce Awards (President's Awards)
• First Aid Course (Includes Certification-Given by Dr. Chris Bourgeros)
• Projects on various aspects of Hispanic language and culture
• Biology : Dissection Project, Ecology and Food Tests
• History projects
• General Art
• Science Practicals from Titration to Paper Planes
• History of Mathematics
• East Cork Science Project Competition run by Millipore
• Use of trigonometry for Elementary Surveying
  (Visit to the local graveyard to map out the graves - Very Popular)
• Coffee Morning in aid of Charity
• Fund Raising for the Menigitis Trust and a building blitz in South Africa
• Traffic flow Survey - compiled on computer
• French Project
• Tag Rugby and Horse riding as well as regular sports.

GCSE in ICT

Thanks to the excellent facilities in our IT room we are able to study and sit the GCSE as set by the Examining Board in Belfast. This was started in 2004 and we are still the only school or college providing this in Munster. The course is 60% coursework in the form of creative analytical and functional use of both software and Internet and 40% exam marked externally.

Work Experience

Work experience is a central component of the “Transition Year Programme” in Midleton College. Parents involvement in the placement of their children proved to be invaluable and we are extremely grateful for their co-operation.

Following on from the preparatory/job-seeking stage, the students complete two weeks in the work place. The fortnight usually coincides with the Pre-Leaving/ Pre-Junior certificate examinations. Students, with the exception of the foreign ones, generally operate from home when on work experience.

The majority of students choose two different placements during the fortnight, but some prefer to complete the two weeks in the one place. Every student, where geographically possible, is visited while on work experience. Each employer is requested to fill out and return an assessment form evaluating the student concerned. The latter on his/her return to school, produces a report outlining his /her own experience in the work place. A further in-depth evaluation is carried out in the classroom immediately after the completion of work experience.

One of the key aims of the Transition Year Programme is “Education through experience of adult and working life as a basis for personal development and maturity”.

Work experience placements are a popular and effective way of meeting this aim.

During the Transition Year the learning experience is extended beyond the classroom. To this end a number of Tours , visits and Outings take place.

• Science trips
• Geography Outing- Coastal fieldwork in East Cork and Waterford
• Visit to Millipore
• Visit to Midleton Distillery
• Careers Seminars - Rochestown Park Hotel
• STEPS Engineering Exhibition- St. Colman’s College, Midleton.

In order to increase their awareness of the needs of others, our TY pupils maintained a schedule of Hospital Visiting to elderly patients in Our Lady’s Hospital Midleton. A daily log was kept and a report on each student was provided by the Matron Mrs. Mary Troy.

A Drugs Awareness and Prevention Programme

A Drugs Awareness and Prevention Programme is completed during Transition year which features drugs information, assertiveness, development of personal and interpersonal skills and meetings with recovering addicts.

First Aid and CPR

A ten week course is provided by the Irish Red Cross Society. Certificates will be awarded on completion of written and practical examinations.