Transition year pupils more likely to sit Leaving Cert

Students who complete a transition year are more likely to complete their Leaving Certificate exams, a study shows.

The latest annual report on retention rates in Irish schools shows there is a significant gap in numbers sitting their final exams between those who follow the Transition Year programme and those who don’t have a ‘gap year’.

The study of students who entered post-primary school in 2009 found over 95% of transition year students sat the Leaving Certificate compared to just under 84% for those who went straight from Junior Certificate to fifth year studies. Among the 2009 cohort, 57% of students had a transition year.