Children's Transitions to Secondary School: getting it right for the teachers too

The University of Dundee has delivered a research project “Stakeholders’ experiences of Primary to Secondary School Transitions” which has been carried out in partnership with a cluster of one secondary school and 6 primary schools in a Scottish city.

The views of children, their parents and professionals from the primary and secondary schools were sought in the two year study. These focused on stakeholders’ views of the transition process both during the period prior to starting at secondary school and after the move; also their views of the systems put into place by the primary and secondary schools to support the transition.

In this presentation, the views of primary and secondary school professionals collected during Stages 2 and 3 of the four stage study will be discussed, including their views of the systems put into place by the primary and secondary schools during the transition period. The views of whether parents and professionals also make a transition will also be discussed.

Recommendations from the study relating to teacher education and policy will be considered, particularly those relating to the inclusion of transitions in initial teacher education and continuing professional development once in-service. There should be systems to record informal support and professional learning, for example Scotland’s ‘Professional Update’ system. The emotional impact of the children’s transition for teachers should be recognised and supported through the transition process.

Further research into teachers’ transitions, especially the conceptualisation of whether they view this as a transition for them too, and why, is also needed.