The challenge of pupil transition. Have you given it enough thought? 

Watch this video to discover how video has helped one secondary school teacher to make the transition process more effective:

How primary schools can help make the transition smoother

Wider education research suggests primary schools can help transitioning pupils by:

• Setting up visits to the secondary school prior to students’ entry.
• Introducing students to approaches to learning they may encounter at secondary school. Including, providing an introduction to a more challenging curriculum.
• Communicating transition information with families.
• Sharing accurate information with the secondary school, including information about students interests and social circles. As well as students that might be of concern.
• Ensuring that students have strong learning foundations, and have developed self-efficacy skills, like planning, organising and time management skills.
• Preparing students for a new school culture where things like discipline, class work, homework will be different.
• Listening to students’ concerns about going to secondary school.
• Encouraging students to be positive about change and to take up new challenges.

How secondary schools can help make the transition smoother

Similarly, research indicates that secondary schools should think about the cultural features they have that help transition learners effectively and how they can get to know their new students prior to them joining. This is particularly important for vulnerable students. Here are some suggestions:

• Ensure that students experience success in their learning so they stay engaged in education.
• Develop a culture that welcomes and supports all students, particularly vulnerable ones. Leaders are typically important in introducing a culture that accepts responsibility for meeting student needs and developing flexible and innovative responses to all students’ learning and wellbeing.
• Identify vulnerable students before their entry into the secondary school, and as they transition between classes in a secondary school.
• Have processes in place to monitor the wellbeing and progress of all students, especially vulnerable students. Make sure you are able to provide them with ongoing support in socio-emotional spheres.
• Continue to offer support to students throughout the year not just in the initial weeks.
• Adopt a responsive and solutions-oriented approach to working through issues of students not adjusting to their new school.

The knowledge transfer challenge

“There is a growing understanding of the benefit of drawing on a combination of the strengths from both primary and secondary approaches to teaching and learning, in order to enhance pupils’ learning across the primary/secondary school transition. But more work is needed to support teachers from primary and secondary schools to find the time and space to work together to develop coherent approaches to both academic and pastoral transition…

...Evidence from the study suggests that there is some concern on the part of primary teachers that they have little opportunity to be involved in the processes of transition or the development of pupils after they have transferred to secondary school. This means that the detailed knowledge and understanding of their pupils that they have built up over many years is often under-utilised.” - Supporting learning in the transition from primary to secondary schools, University of Bristol

The emerging role of video for easier transition

Video can be a powerful, time-saving, cost-effective tool for helping with transitioning students. Primary school teachers can easily share lessons with secondary schools, reducing the need to arrange visits and lesson cover. These videos can help to show the learners in their own environment, so that the receiving teachers can better understand their needs and see any effective strategies already in place.

These videos can then be shared with teachers and staff throughout the secondary school, in particular form tutors and teaching assistants, so they come up with ideas and strategies that will help to make the transition process far smoother.

Equally, secondary school teachers can share lesson videos with feeder primary schools, to help them better introduce students to approaches to learning they may encounter at their new school.

They can also share videos of children who have recently transitioned to get advice from their primary school teachers on pupils experiencing difficulties. 

Have you got any suggestions for making student transition smoother? Leave them in the comments below.