The transition from primary school to secondary school

• Main Author: Roberts, Joanne P.
• Published: Bangor University 2008
• Subjects: 371.2
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.491673

A feature ofthe education system in the United Kingdom is the transfer of children, at approximately age of 11, from a smaller primary school to a larger secondary school. Evidence suggests this transition is an important time in a child's life and whilst many children make a smooth transition, some find this change very difficult. This thesis reviews the literature regarding parental influence on the transition from primary school to secondary school. Research has identified tha,t parental involvement in a child's education can have a considerable effect on a child's academic and psychological adjustment. However, during transition, when children typically have to manage a number of competing demands, parental involvement generally declines substantially. To contextualise and facilitate an understanding ofthe factors which effect parental involvement during transition, th~ review aisp considered the influence oftransition on adolescent adjustment and parental influence on adolescent adjustment. The experimental paper explored the long term effects oftransition on adolescent adjustment by investigating how pre transition levels of cognitive ability, levels of psychopathology and emotional intelligence have an effect on transition. Pre transition (year 6) pupils comple.ted measures ofcognitive ability, emotional intelligence and psychopathology. Post transition (year 7 and year 8) pupils completed measures ofemotional intelligence, psychopathology and answered questions abouttransition. The results demonstrated low self concept and/or high anxiety scores were significant predictors ofa negative report oftransition. Furthermore, a higher score on one measure ofemotional intelligence proved a significant predictor ofa positivereport oftransition.