What makes a successful What makes a successful transition from Primary to transition from Primary to Secondary SchoolSecondary School ??

Key issues addressed by the study

This UK study:This UK study:– explored current transition practicesexplored current transition practices– highlighted what helped and hindered successful highlighted what helped and hindered successful

transition between KS2 and KS3transition between KS2 and KS3

Parents and pupils’ viewsParents and pupils’ views

Parents and pupils thought successful transition involved:Parents and pupils thought successful transition involved:– building new friendships and improving self esteem building new friendships and improving self esteem – showing increased interest in school and school workshowing increased interest in school and school work– getting used to new routines and organisationgetting used to new routines and organisation– experiencing curriculum continuityexperiencing curriculum continuity

Schools’ support for pupils during Schools’ support for pupils during transitiontransition Effective activities used by schools included:Effective activities used by schools included:

– group and pair work group and pair work – seating arrangements to help build friendshipsseating arrangements to help build friendships– team-building activitiesteam-building activities– visits of teachers to the Year 6 pupils in June-Julyvisits of teachers to the Year 6 pupils in June-July– sharing views with parentssharing views with parents

Perceived barriers to successful Perceived barriers to successful transitiontransition

For children, poor transition was associated For children, poor transition was associated with: with: – experiences of bullyingexperiences of bullying– worrying about doing well or making new friends worrying about doing well or making new friends

and feeling includedand feeling included– having new and different teachers for each subjecthaving new and different teachers for each subject

What local authorities saw as problems What local authorities saw as problems for transitionfor transition

According to local authority officers, According to local authority officers, transition problems occurred when:transition problems occurred when:– parents did not understand the admissions parents did not understand the admissions

process well, especially if neighbouring process well, especially if neighbouring authorities had different proceduresauthorities had different procedures

– parents tried to manipulate the systemparents tried to manipulate the system

What schools saw as the main What schools saw as the main obstacles to successful transitionobstacles to successful transition

Secondary schools not Secondary schools not having enough having enough information about each information about each child child

Primary schools Primary schools lacking knowledge of lacking knowledge of processes and processes and procedures at procedures at secondary schoolssecondary schools

Who were the children in the study?Who were the children in the study?

550 children and their families were involved in 550 children and their families were involved in the study which was a sub-study of a larger the study which was a sub-study of a larger studystudy

How was the information gathered?How was the information gathered?

The methods used included: The methods used included: – interviews with officials in six LAsinterviews with officials in six LAs– a survey of children and their familiesa survey of children and their families– production of 12 case studies of pupils who production of 12 case studies of pupils who

experienced good transitionexperienced good transition

How can teachers use this evidence?How can teachers use this evidence?

The study found developing new friendships and settling well was very important The study found developing new friendships and settling well was very important to pupils during transition. How could you support the children in this? to pupils during transition. How could you support the children in this? – Would it be helpful to consider relationship building when, for example planning and Would it be helpful to consider relationship building when, for example planning and

organising group work and classroom seating arrangements? organising group work and classroom seating arrangements?

– Would it be helpful to organise mentor or buddy arrangements for new pupils in need of Would it be helpful to organise mentor or buddy arrangements for new pupils in need of support?support?

How can school leaders use this How can school leaders use this evidence?evidence? The research highlighted the importance of information exchange prior to transition The research highlighted the importance of information exchange prior to transition

– How can you encourage colleagues to work more closely with colleagues from other phases How can you encourage colleagues to work more closely with colleagues from other phases to facilitate smoother transition? to facilitate smoother transition?

– Could you discuss with your staff different approaches to involving parents?Could you discuss with your staff different approaches to involving parents? The research showed that bullying worried many pupils during transitionThe research showed that bullying worried many pupils during transition

– What strategies do you use to combat these such fears?What strategies do you use to combat these such fears?

Follow-up readingFollow-up reading Study reference: Study reference:

Evangelou, M., Taggart, B., Sylva, K., Melhuish, Evangelou, M., Taggart, B., Sylva, K., Melhuish, E., Sammons, P. and Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2008)E., Sammons, P. and Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2008)What makes a successful transition from What makes a successful transition from Primary to Secondary School? Primary to Secondary School? DCSF, 2008, DCSF, 2008, Research Report DCSF – RR019 Research Report DCSF – RR019

You might like to read a more detailed summary You might like to read a more detailed summary of this research, accessible at:of this research, accessible at:

http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/research/themes/transition/successfultransition/

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