Transition Times: Teachers tell us how they approach the freedom of transition year. This week: Deirdre Burke from St Vincent's Secondary, Dundalk.

"There's plenty going on for transition-year business students. Between mini-companies, enterprise awards, fantasy share trading and trade fairs they are kept very busy right through the year.

"Business studies is a core component of transition year in

St Vincent's, and I believe that it's very instructive - and not just for the budding Michael O'Leary [ below].

"Working on projects such as enterprise or mini-companies draws in all the skills that transition year is designed to foster. Team-working, communication, sharing and optimising the skills available in the group: these are all called into play when students set out to produce and sell a product or run a business.

"In our school the transition-year students are split up into groups of two or three, and early in the school year they carry out market research to identify a product or service to sell. They are competing not just with each other but with local businesses.

"There's no point in trying to sell sandwiches to students in the school corridor if they can be bought for less down the road. After they research their markets they get going. This year we have a jewellery company, a breakfast bar, a smoothie company and many other student-friendly initiatives. The students usually make a profit - at least, they have done in the past. Of course it's not the profit that matters: loss-making ventures often teach the students more than success stories.

"Before Christmas each year we have a trade fair at the school, and all the students from the locality come for a browse. It's a big day for the school. Some students will go on from there to represent the school at the regional or national trade fairs.

"After Christmas the students will run a virtual business online, making decisions to make or break the venture and get them through to the next round. Not every student will go on to take business for Leaving

Certificate, but they all engage in a bit of fresh thinking during their transition-year experience. Individual strengths are brought to the fore as students take on the challenges, conflicts and triumphs that school enterprise offers."

Send your thoughts on teaching in transition year to lholden@irish-times.ie