Primary to Secondary School Transition

Policy

Schools are required to support students as they transition from primary to secondary school. This policy outlines how schools can implement effective transition programs and support for their students from Year 5 to Year 8. School leaders are best placed to determine how to implement this policy and use the associated guidance and resources to fit their local school context, considering school size, location and student cohort needs.

Summary

• Transition to secondary school can be thought of as a 4-phased process that spans across Years 5 to 8. It is a shared responsibility between primary and secondary schools.
• Where practical, primary and secondary schools should work together to implement transition programs across the 4 phases outlined in this policy.
• Government primary schools are required to share comprehensive student data with the confirmed government secondary school for every student. Secondary schools should use student data to meet the needs of new Year 7 students and to plan and deliver their transition program. Refer to the ‘Transfer of information’ section of the Enrolment – Student transfers between schools topic.
• Authorised school staff should use the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) and access Child Link to review relevant information to promote student wellbeing and safety, and support positive transitions. Refer to the Child Link topic for further information.
• The Guidance and Resources tabs provide information and links to resources to help schools develop and implement effective transition programs and support.

Details

Transition to secondary school is a phased process across Years 5 to 8 and is a shared responsibility of primary and secondary schools.

Coinciding with the transition from childhood to adolescence, the transition to secondary school is a period of tremendous growth and development for students but is also a time when they are at heightened risk of disengagement, poor wellbeing and declining learning outcomes. A student’s transition experience can have fundamental and long-lasting impacts on their achievement, engagement and wellbeing.

Guided by evidence of best practice and the Framework for Improving Student Outcomes, schools are encouraged to regularly review and adjust their transition programs and support.

Students in the transition period benefit when schools work together to provide differentiated supports that respond to the unique strengths and needs of all students and families. Primary and secondary schools with shared student cohorts, and all other schools with students in Years 5 to 8, are encouraged to collaboratively design and implement their transition programs and supports. In many cases, primary schools will have students moving to several different secondary schools, and secondary schools will be receiving students from many different primary schools. In these cases, a school may wish to focus on developing relationships with the schools that have the largest groups of shared students.

If a student is transitioning from a government primary school to a non-government secondary school, or to a government secondary school from a non-government primary school, the government school should endeavour to engage and collaborate with the non-government school to provide effective transition support to the student.

It is important to build a strong sense of belonging and wellbeing for all students. This includes considering the needs of students with disabilities and students in Out of Home Care as well as providing cultural safety for Koorie students and students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Four phases of transition to secondary school

The transition from primary to secondary school is not a single point in time activity, it is a process experienced by students across the middle years (Years 5 to 8). Schools are encouraged to implement practices that support transition throughout the following phases:

1. The Preparation phase spans across Years 5 and 6 and aims to prepare students for the transition to secondary school, helping students understand what to expect in secondary school to proactively reduce any anxiety that they may experience.
2. The Transfer phase occurs at the end of Year 6 and involves primary schools collecting and sharing student transition data with the confirmed secondary school, which receives and analyses the data to inform transition program planning and tailor support for the cohorts and individual students, as required. Coinciding with this phase is the statewide Orientation Day (and any additional transition days).
3. The Induction phase supports new Year 7 students to develop a strong sense of connection and belonging to their new school and to ease into the new practices, rhythms and relationships of their new school.
4. The Consolidation phase continues to develop Year 8 students’ sense of connectedness and belonging, building on the skills, knowledge and experiences they have gained in previous phases, with a strong emphasis on supporting their wellbeing and confidence.

More detailed information about each phase, including practical strategies, implementation advice and case studies to support teachers and school leaders, is available on the Resources tab.

Transfer of student information

The transfer of student information is essential to the successful transition of students from primary to secondary school. ‘Student information’ means personal and health information about the student, including their achievement, wellbeing and foreseeable risk factors.

Once Year 7 placements have been accepted, primary schools are then required to share student information with secondary schools. Prep to 9 and Prep to 12 schools also should ensure that relevant student information is appropriately shared with and used by Year 7 teachers and staff.

For policy and guidance on the transfer of information between primary and secondary schools, refer to ‘Transfer of information’ at Enrolment – Student transfers between schools, which includes guidance about sharing information between schools (including Department Confidential Student Files held by Student Support Services teams) for student wellbeing or the safety of children, or to assess or manage family violence risk.

Using Child Information Sharing Scheme and Child Link to support positive transitions

Authorised school staff are recommended to access Child Link to review information and engagement in services for every new student enrolment. Information that can be reviewed to support positive transitions includes:

• enrolment in other education services
• sibling information
• child protection orders.

Schools can request and share information with Victorian early childhood or education services, including information displayed in Child Link, to support transition planning for each student’s wellbeing and safety. All Victorian centre-based education and care services (long day care, kindergarten and before and after school hours care services) and schools are Information Sharing Entities under the Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS).

Reviewing Child Link and sharing information can further support smooth transitions by providing a more informed understanding of a new student’s circumstances, which can assist to identify any additional supports that may be needed.

Child Link Users in schools will have access to a child entry for the period that the child is enrolled, and for an additional 3 months after the enrolment ends, to assist in the child’s transition between services.

Refer to the Child Link and Child and Family Violence Information Sharing Schemes policies/topics for further guidance.

Contact

Schools can direct queries about the primary to secondary school transition practice to: Secondary.School.Transition@education.vic.gov.au

Related policies

• Child and Family Violence Information Sharing Schemes
• Child Link
• Enrolment
• Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO 2.0)
• High Impact Wellbeing Strategies
• Koorie Education
• Mental Health in Schools
• Records Management – School Records
• School Dates
• Student Engagement
• Student Voice, Agency and Leadership
• Supporting Students in Out-of-Home Care
• Year 6 to 7 placement