Looking into the effects that children experience during the transition from Year Six to Form One

Abstract

The aim of this study is to look into the transitional period that students have to go through between their final year in the Primary school and their first year in the Secondary school. In the light of the present study, as well as previous studies, the study revolves around the term 'transition', as it deals with the students' personals view of the change not merely with the physical change occurring. The subjects were 24 primary school students and 24 secondary school students within the state and private sector. All participants were interviewed at two stages during the transition to test adaptation and attitudes towards transition. This study, therefore, reflects the students' moods, attitudes and expectations, both before and after the change. This also involves looking into the effects that this transition has on the students' social relations. Their relations with parents, teachers, peers and other persons with whom they interact in their every day lives, are seen as potential influences on the student's general performance at school and ultimately, in their exams. Consequently, these expectations are then measured up against the students' actual experiences once in the Secondary school. The data strongly suggests that although all the students encounter some difficulties, most of the students consider the transition towards a new school as a challenge, as by time, they get used to the new system and they get on quite well. Yet, the need for support programmes is substantial, although some schools have already taken the initiative.