Transition impact

What is different about secondary school?

There are major differences between the experience of secondary school, compared to primary school:

• Educational shift: Children in secondary school meet a more rigorous curriculum, where many new skills need to be fostered to engage with it. Additionally, children in secondary school are typically given homework for each subject that they study on a weekly basis.
• Organisational shift: Children in secondary school have different teachers for different subjects, and are usually taught in different classrooms for each subject. They will be given an exercise book and textbook for their individual subjects, and are expected to remember to bring the correct books to the correct lessons. The school day looks quite different, with just a few minutes to get between lessons and sanctions given for lateness. After school and weekends can look quite different to primary school, as children will have to manage their homework schedule and independent study time. In Year 7, children face many organisational challenges, and progress towards greater independence.
• Social shift: Children who are transitioning to secondary school will be immersed into a new social world, where they may not be with many or even any of their close friends. They will have the opportunity to make new friends or establish a social group in some way. They may be spoken to differently by teachers, who aim to foster a sense of maturity in each child.
• Cultural shift: Children will wear a brand new school uniform, and have to understand a new set of rules and a new school ethos.
• Geographical shift: Not only is the building a completely different layout, but their new school may be in an entirely different geographical location. They may have to learn new transport routes, travel alone and acquire a certain level of street safety awareness.
• Biological shift: As children transition to secondary school, they are often experiencing the changes of puberty in their bodies. Some children are not affected by the challenges of puberty during this period of time, but many experience changes in their personalities whilst they are working out how to fit in or stand out. This can be in conjunction with emotional changes, changes to their physical appearance and a heightened sense of self-awareness. This can make the process of transitioning to a new environment more challenging.

Some positive impacts of the school transition on a child can include:

• An increased sense of independence and accountability, which is demonstrated at home and at school.
• A feeling of pride in their work and achievements.
• Good bonds between peers and teachers which aids other aspects of the transition.
• A positive change in personality and a chance to reinvent themselves.
• A love of learning due to the new, in-depth and dynamic lessons with subject experts.

Negative impacts can include: 

• Decreased attendance.
• Lack of engagement and/or disruption due to finding the work too challenging.
• Anxiety about going to school.
• Low self-esteem.
• Missing their primary school friends.
• Not enjoying lessons due to poor behaviour.
• Getting lost in the new building.
• Not being able to keep up with homework deadlines.
• Parental distress at their child's unhappiness/lack of academic achievement/bullying.