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Transition from Primary to Secondary School
Evidence from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) has shown that 40 per cent of pupils lose motivation and make no progress in the year after transfer to Secondary school.
The precise reasons for this are unclear, although many of those directly involved in the crucial transition years report similar concerns. Communication difficulties, cultural differences between the Primary and Secondary 'styles' and insufficient attention to the emotions of changing schools crop up as possible causes time and again.
The Department for Children, Schools and Familes DCSF commissioned research into what makes a
successful transition from Primary to Secondary School. The report published in Jan 2008 states
that "transition from primary to secondary school is important in the lives of children and their
families, yet research has shown that transitions can be stressful for children, that continuity of
curriculum between primary and secondary school may suffer during transition and that some
vulnerable children need intervention prior to transition. As part of its commitment to
ensuring that every young person achieves their full potential, the Government's Strategy aims to
provide all pupils with a smooth transition from primary to secondary school. This report
presents the findings of a sub-study on transitions undertaken as part of the Effective Pre-school,
Primary and Secondary Education 3-14 (EPPSE 3-14 project), a major longitudinal study investigating
the influence of pre-school, primary and secondary school on children’s cognitive and
social/behavioural development in England."
Pitt Rivers Museum and Oxford University Museum of Natural History ran a project which aimed
to ease the transition to Secondary school by providing some common ground between pupils whilst
building skills that could be expanded on by history teachers. Over 300 Year 6 children were
involved.
Downloads
Making Museums (Pitt Rivers Museum and Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH. Word DOC, 39Kb)
Creating a Museum of Your School (Pitt Rivers and OUMNH. Word DOC, 69Kb).
Useful Websites
DCSF website for the report What makes a successful transition from Primary to Secondary School.