Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
108. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of second level schools here; the number offering transition year; the number of students currently in transition year; if a review is planned of transition year or if one has taken place; if so, the findings of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43016/12]
View answerThe data requested by the Deputy are as follows for 2011/12 school year, the last year for which complete figures are available: there were 723 recognised post-primary schools of which 582 offered the transition year programme on which 32,673 students were enrolled. This information has been extracted from the returns made by schools to my Department as at 30th September each year. An evaluation of the programme - The Transition Year Programme: An Assessment by Emer Smyth, Delma Byrne and Carmel Hannan - was published by the ESRI in 2005. This study provided a comprehensive examination of all aspects of the operation of transition year and of its effect on student outcomes in a range of school contexts. It confirmed that the programme has huge potential to develop students' broader life skills and confidence and that it can contribute significantly to building positive student-teacher relationships. The report pointed to better academic outcomes and increased rates of progression to higher education among many transition year students in all school types even after controlling for parental background and prior performance in the Junior Certificate.
