Abstract
Theme: Educational and Life Transitions
Beth Hannah* & Tricia Thomson**
*TCELT, University of Dundee ** University of Dundee
Contact email: e.hannah@dundee.ac.uk
Title: Role and impact of transition teachers in supporting pupils’ transition from primary to secondary school
Aims
The transition from primary to secondary school is a significant life event for pupils, parents/carers, and teachers. This study focused on the role and impact of the deployment of transition teachers in one Local Authority (LA) in Scotland.
Objectives were:
1. Ascertain the number and type of interventions being used by the transition teachers to support pupils’ transition from primary to secondary school
2. Investigate the transition teachers’ understanding of the basis for selecting these interventions
3. Ascertain the ways in which the transition teachers’ interventions are being evaluated to measure impact and the perceived effectiveness of these evaluation methods
Methods
Five transition teachers were interviewed. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Qualitative content analysis, involving both researchers, generated themes and sub-themes for each objective.
Main findings
Transition teachers engage in a range of interventions (targeted and universal), including literacy, numeracy and science support, health and wellbeing, building relationships, supporting transition to high school, and enhancing expectations of high school. Qualitative and quantitative data were used to inform selection of interventions. Participants identified a number of challenges in evaluating impact of interventions. A range of evaluation methods was employed to inform planning, qualitative (e.g. plan do review) and quantitative (e.g. test data).
Conclusions
Recommendations have been made to the LA to inform policy and practice.
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Published - Nov 2018 |
Event | School of Education and Social Work Research and Scholarship Conference - Dundee Duration: 28 Nov 2018 → 28 Nov 2018 |
Conference
Conference | School of Education and Social Work Research and Scholarship Conference |
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City | Dundee |
Period | 28/11/18 → 28/11/18 |