The Transition Year Programme: An Assessment

The number of students taking part in the Transition Year programme has grown significantly since the mid-1990s. However, little is known about the nature of the programme and its impact on the students who take it. This study provides a comprehensive examination of the operation of the Transition Year programme using information gathered from school principals, teachers and students themselves. The book explores the kinds of schools which provide Transition Year and the content of the programme in different school settings. It examines what school principals, teachers and students think about the programme and looks at the effect of taking part in Transition Year on a range of student outcomes, including school drop-out, subject take-up, exam performance and transitions to higher education. The book highlights 'best practice' in the operation of Transition Year and discusses the ways in which Transition Year might be developed in the future. It will be of interest to policy-makers, school management, Transition Year co-ordinators, teachers and parents.