Primary to Post-PrimaryPrimary to Post-Primary

Transition IssuesTransition Issues

2424thth June 2008 June 2008

Transition…Transition…

‘‘The transition is a change on a scale that makes The transition is a change on a scale that makes transfer from first to second level a significant life event’ transfer from first to second level a significant life event’ (O’Brien, M., 2004).(O’Brien, M., 2004).

It involves a triple transitionIt involves a triple transition From a familiar school environment to a new one From a familiar school environment to a new one From familiar friendships and peer groups to new peer From familiar friendships and peer groups to new peer

groupingsgroupings The developmental move from childhood to adolescence The developmental move from childhood to adolescence

Moving Up -ESRI/NCCA 2004

ESRI/NCCA ESRI/NCCA Study of 900 pupils in First YearStudy of 900 pupils in First Year……

Most settle in by end of first weekMost settle in by end of first week 25% settle by end of first month25% settle by end of first month 1 in 6 take longer than that1 in 6 take longer than that DifficultiesDifficulties

Girls take longer than boys to settleGirls take longer than boys to settle Students who are less self-confident and have a Students who are less self-confident and have a

more negative view of themselves more negative view of themselves Ethnic minorities including TravellersEthnic minorities including Travellers

Post-primary schoolsPost-primary schools

Pre-entry contactPre-entry contact Open day – 5Open day – 5thth and 6 and 6thth class pupils/parents class pupils/parents Visit primary feeder schools Visit primary feeder schools Meeting between 6Meeting between 6thth class teacher and PP personnel – class teacher and PP personnel –

students’ achievement, learning strengths and students’ achievement, learning strengths and material covered at primary level material covered at primary level

Tests – before or after entry to identify students who Tests – before or after entry to identify students who need learning support, to assign students to classesneed learning support, to assign students to classes

Home school links – accessible informationHome school links – accessible information Home School Community Liaison Co-ordinatorHome School Community Liaison Co-ordinator School Completion Programme – Transfer School Completion Programme – Transfer

programmesprogrammes

InductionInduction

Positive school climate – encourage good Positive school climate – encourage good relationships among students and between relationships among students and between students and teachersstudents and teachers

Induction day at the start of the school year Induction day at the start of the school year Role of class tutor/year headRole of class tutor/year head Student mentor schemeStudent mentor scheme Clear and effective code of behaviour and anti Clear and effective code of behaviour and anti

bullying policybullying policy Extra curricular activitiesExtra curricular activities

Helping with settling in (students)Helping with settling in (students)

0

10

20

30

4050

60

70

80

90

Older sib. Primaryfriends

Extra-curricular

Inductionprog.

Open day Visits toprimary

Buddysystem

Classtutor

Teacher

%

Moving Up -ESRI/NCCA 2004

Post-primary schoolsPost-primary schools

Differ in how they structure the learning Differ in how they structure the learning process for first-year studentsprocess for first-year students Mixed ability groupings - students develop Mixed ability groupings - students develop

during the year, promote positive attitudes - during the year, promote positive attitudes - more confident as learnersmore confident as learners

Streaming in a minority of schools – less Streaming in a minority of schools – less common than in the 1990scommon than in the 1990s• LabellingLabelling• Teachers moving too quickly or too slowly when Teachers moving too quickly or too slowly when

covering subject materialcovering subject material

Opportunity to try out different subjects before Opportunity to try out different subjects before selecting ones for the Junior Cert selecting ones for the Junior Cert (no negative (no negative effect on students’ progress in reading and maths or effect on students’ progress in reading and maths or on how well they settle in)on how well they settle in)

Delay subject selection until end of first yearDelay subject selection until end of first year Taster programmes Taster programmes In 1/5 of schools students choose their In 1/5 of schools students choose their

subjects before or immediately on entrysubjects before or immediately on entry Minority of schools - no choice of subjectsMinority of schools - no choice of subjects Monitoring of student progressMonitoring of student progress More progress in reading and mathematics More progress in reading and mathematics

where there is an emphasis on settling inwhere there is an emphasis on settling in 10% got learning support 10% got learning support Students with SEN - IEPsStudents with SEN - IEPs

CurriculumCurriculum

It is important that subject teachers It is important that subject teachers understand the teaching and learning understand the teaching and learning approaches that characterise students’ approaches that characterise students’ experiences in primary schools experiences in primary schools

When post-primary teachers are familiar When post-primary teachers are familiar with the Primary School Curriculum they with the Primary School Curriculum they can help students to make connections can help students to make connections with and build on the learning that has with and build on the learning that has taken place in primary schooltaken place in primary school

Problem solving

Enjoyment of Learning Active

Participation

Guided Discovery

Collaborative Learning

Use of environment

Child-centred

Learning through

Language

Principles of Primary CurriculumPrinciples of Primary Curriculum

Integration

LanguageLanguage

Gaeilge EnglishGaeilge English

MathematicsMathematics

Social, Environmental and Scientific Education Social, Environmental and Scientific Education (SESE)(SESE)

History Geography ScienceHistory Geography Science

Arts EducationArts Education

Visual Arts Music DramaVisual Arts Music Drama

Physical EducationPhysical Education

Social, Personal and Health EducationSocial, Personal and Health Education (SPHE)(SPHE)

Religious EducationReligious Education

Post-Primary Fact SheetsPost-Primary Fact Sheets

Transition – some issuesTransition – some issues

Recurring eventRecurring event A complex stage for studentsA complex stage for students Opportunities and challengesOpportunities and challenges Needs good planningNeeds good planning

Transition issuesTransition issues

WorkshopWorkshop

WorkshopWorkshop

What practices in your schools promote What practices in your schools promote positive experiences for positive experiences for allall first year first year students?students?

Are there practices that could be Are there practices that could be improved?improved? Whole school Whole school Subject departmentsSubject departments Individual teachersIndividual teachers