Two thirds of children look forward to transitioning to secondary school, new report finds

The transition between primary and secondary school is an important milestone in a young person’s life and while many children look forward to it, it is also a source of worry for many.

Researchers from the Wolfson Centre at Cardiff University, Professors Graham Moore and Frances Rice, contributed to a recent study into the experiences of pupils in Wales. The study aimed to understand the extent to which children were looking forward to/worried about the secondary school transition and how these feelings were impacted by a child’s socioeconomic background as well as any emotional and behavioural issues.

Professor Graham Moore said “A third of children reported being quite or very worried about the transition to secondary school, while approximately two-thirds reported looking forward to it. Worries surrounding the transition from primary to secondary education centred around themes of bullying and maintaining existing friendships. Forging new friendships and meeting with old friends again in a new setting were sources of excitement.”

However, children from poorer backgrounds and schools and children with greater emotional difficulties were more likely to report concerns around the move to secondary school.

Professor Frances Rice added “Children reporting more emotional or behavioural difficulties are less likely to look forward to the transition from primary to secondary school. It is vital that processes and procedures to support children during this time of change are sensitive to the needs of children from less affluent backgrounds and those children with mental health difficulties.”

Professor Graham Moore concluded “Understanding young people’s experiences and how we can support their needs, particularly relating to mental health and wellbeing, continues to be incredibly important, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Clearly schools are only one part of the picture and supporting young people’s needs, particularly in the recovery from the pandemic, will require efforts across the whole of society. However, effective in-school interventions and activities to support young people from poorer backgrounds and those with mental health concerns have a role to play in reducing inequalities that emerge during childhood, which can be amplified during key life-course stages like the move to secondary school. Working in collaboration with the Wolfson Centre and DECIPHer Centre, we look forward to undertaking further work in this area in the coming years.”

The paper ‘Socio-Economic Status, Mental Health Difficulties and Feelings about Transition to Secondary School among 10–11 Year Olds in Wales: Multi-Level Analysis of a Cross-Sectional Survey’ is available online and published by Springer.