Making the Transition

1. Making the Transition Nicole Lyons

2. Context • Minster School, Southwell – Humanities Specialism • Work to improve transition between Primary and Secondary Geography • School has strategies to improve transition between Secondary and Degree Level Geography

3. Why is it important to manage the transition? • It is important for pupils to study Geography, as it is relevant to their lives and will teach them to consider the world that they live in carefully • Pupils must have a consistent (and good) experience of Geography • We want to encourage pupils to continue to study Geography post-14

4. Why is the transition difficult to manage? • Communication – main limiting factor • Important for the same subject to be presented throughout education • Equally important for difficulty and complexity to increase throughout education • Breadth of subject – allows for flexibility but can be difficult to manage

5. What do you want from other people? • Not clear what we our own responsibility is • Not clear what others would like us to do • A good idea of this may improve transition ACTIVITY: Write a list of three things that you would like the next/previous phase of education to do to aid the transition process

6. Feedback • Clear information at what is taught in neighbouring phases – repetition, continuity • Prevention of gaps and overlaps • Advice on assessment • Resources • Visits • Encourage pupils to continue to study Geography

7. How can we actually aid transition? • Practical advice rather than philosophy • Use of expertise of individuals: SEN information, course information, skills, resources, • Collaboration – use existing good work • Must meet needs of both parties • KS4/5 – HE transition particularly difficult • Communication is vital!

8. My experiences of Primary-Secondary Transition • Part of school’s specialist status • Many initial meetings • SoW – Western Africa • 6 interactive lessons with resources, plans etc • Work booklet • Assessment material • Extensive consultation • Team teaching/Support • Africa Day at end of term?

9. PRACTICAL ACTIVITY • Work in pairs • Plan a 6-lesson SOW using sheets provided for Year 6 pupils (focus on pri-sec transition as no HE representatives here) • Complete 1 sheet each so that you are able to take this away • SOW must not be about: Weather, Europe, Natural Hazards

10. PRACTICAL ACTIVITY - continued • Rationale – why bother to teach this subject? • Learning objectives – consider ability of pupils • Remember that Y7 pupils who start secondary school have just finished Y6 • Resources – use best knowledge • Activities – active, ICT, citizenship, role play, enquiry, fieldwork, personal Geography • Responsibility – important to establish early • Difficulties – be realistic YOU HAVE 15 MINUTES FOR THIS ACTIVITY

11. Feedback • What did you find easy? • What did you find difficult? • What other information will you need? • Lessons for the future • Easy enough to do in the future?

12. Plenary • ‘To Do’ list for Primary – Secondary transition • Tick the activities that you feel you are able to do, in an appropriate timescale • This will create a list of what you need to do: Communication in Summer Term will allow project to run during the following year • Similar list could be formed for KS4/5 – HE depending upon objectives of project

13. Contact nll@minster.notts.sch.uk