Please support our call for a fair, transparent, and compassionate resolution for 16 Third Year students currently being denied access to Transition Year for the 2026–27 academic year.

Parents and students are deeply concerned that this outcome has arisen through the application of a newly introduced policy and a strict interpretation of capacity limits, despite the existence of practical alternatives that could allow these students to participate. 

Parents have suggested potential solutions, including flexible timetabling arrangements and modest class-size adjustments that appear to remain within commonly accepted educational norms and approaches previously used in comparable situations.

Families are also concerned about the process by which these decisions have been made. The policy in question was introduced after implementation had already commenced, without prior consultation with affected families, and parents believe there has been insufficient clarity regarding how decisions were reached and reviewed. Concerns have additionally been raised regarding consistency, transparency, and the absence of an independent appeals mechanism

This petition does not seek to criticise individual staff members or undermine the school community. Rather, it asks the school leadership and Board of Management to engage constructively with families and urgently reconsider the current decision in the interests of fairness, student wellbeing, and educational opportunity.

This issue was raised in the Dáil by Duncan Smith TD and Ann Graves TD.  Tánaiste Simon Harris publicly stated that ‘solutions can be found when people work together.’

Transition Year plays an important role in students’ personal development, confidence, maturity, and readiness for senior cycle. Excluding 16 students from participation may have significant educational and emotional consequences for those affected.

We respectfully ask the school to:

Reconsider the exclusion of these students from Transition Year 2026–27:

•Explore reasonable accommodations or capacity solutions

•Provide greater transparency around the decision-making process

•Establish or clarify a fair and independent appeals process

•Engage meaningfully with affected families to achieve a constructive resolution.

We believe a fair solution is possible and urge the school to work collaboratively with parents to ensure that no student is unnecessarily left behind.

Thank you.