THE GROUP representing second-level school principals has accused a grind school of depicting transition year as a waste of a year.
But the grind school in question – Ashfield College based in Templeogue, Dublin – says the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) has misrepresented its radio advertisement.
The 29-second commercial features a conversation between two students about Leaving Cert options. One explains how he is opting out of transition year (TY) and “going straight into fifth year” and “getting this thing out of the way”.
He then jokes that his friend – who has opted for TY – might need grinds after taking a year off.
Yesterday, Clive Byrne of the NAPD said the advert was “a cheap shot aimed at undermining a year that has enormous benefits for students”.
The NAPD has lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland “on the grounds that the tone of the ad is misleading – as it implies that students who take TY are wasting their time”.
The most recent study suggests that students who opt for TY will average 40 more CAO points in their Leaving Cert than those who opt out of the programme.
Mr Byrne said an ESRI study had shown how students who had taken TY achieved one grade point per subject higher in their Leaving Cert.
TY students are also more than twice as likely as non-participants to apply for third level.
“Government policy is to get second-level retention rates to 90 per cent and to increase numbers at third level. Ads such as this work against that goal. Unfortunately the students who are most likely to be influenced by the ad are probably the ones who would most benefit from a transition year programme,” he said.
Yesterday, Giles Kilcoyne, director of Ashfield, accused the NAPD of generating a “storm in a teacup”.
The advert, he said, reflected the dilemma of many students who were ready for fifth year but felt compelled to take TY. He said the advert delivered no overall verdict on TY and accused the NAPD of being “unfair and putting words in our mouth”.
Established in 1977, Ashfield College has become one of the leading grind schools in the State.
It has 155 full-time students in its Leaving Cert group (fifth and sixth years), paying annual fees of €6,950.
