The transition from primary to secondary schools

Abstract

This research tackles problems which pupils face when they start preparing for transition, how they are prepared to face them by the primary schools and what part the secondary schools play in overcoming them. It also studies which problems tend to linger in the secondary schools and what is being done to minimise them. To investigate the problem a survey was conducted in four primary schools and four secondary schools from the Southern part of the Island and from around the outer harbour area. The secondary schools were two Junior Lyceums, one for boys and one for girls and two Area Secondary Schools, again, one for boys and one for girls. There were 433 pupils from Year Six in the primary schools and 602 students from Form One in the secondary schools. The survey shows that the Guidance Unit of the Education Division is playing an important part in easing these problems and that many anxieties experienced by the primary school pupils disappear after some weeks in the secondary school. The study makes suggestions in order to minimise those which might prove harder to overcome.