Resources
Resources to support positive primary to secondary school transition
Transition phases in action
The links below provide one-page guides with sample strategies for each of the transition phases, including a planning template. Schools can choose and adapt strategies that best fit their context. There are also links to examples of effective practice in schools relevant to that phase.
Preparation Phase
- Preparation Phase – the audience for Preparation Phase guidance is Year 5 and 6 teachers, primary school leaders and education support staff
- Preparation Phase transition practice – Reservoir High (staff login required) – shows how the school maintains student engagement and wellbeing by supporting Year 5 and 6 students to know what to expect in secondary school
Transfer Phase
- Transfer Phase – the audience for Transfer Phase guidance is Year 6 and 7 teachers, primary and secondary school leaders (particularly for Year 6 and 7) and education support staff
- Transfer Phase transition practice – Albanvale Primary (staff login required) – shows how the school places students at the centre of their transition practice and maintains student engagement and wellbeing by meeting student needs
- Transfer Phase transition practice – Mansfield Secondary (staff login required) – shows how the school provides differentiated transition support for incoming Year 7 students leading up to the move to secondary school
Induction Phase
- Induction Phase – the audience for Induction Phase guidance is Year 7 teachers, secondary school leaders (particularly for Year 7) and education support staff
- Induction Phase transition practice – Footscray High (staff login required) – shows how the school builds positive and supportive peer and teacher relationships through its 2-week Orientation Week in Term 1
Consolidation Phase
- Consolidation Phase – the audience for Consolidation Phase guidance is Year 8 teachers, secondary school leaders (particularly for Year 8) and education support staff
Examples of transition practice in schools
There are examples of excellent transitions practice across the school system. Following is a selection of examples, including case studies and some examples highlighting specific aspects of transition practice.
Case studies
- Albanvale Primary School case study – an example of a student-centric transition program
- Dandenong High School case study – an example of how to support student belonging and connectedness to school
- Mansfield Secondary College case study – an example of differentiated transition programs and support
- Mordialloc College case study – an example of trusted adults building school connectedness
Examples of effective practice
- Crusoe College Advisory Program – an example of a mechanism for connecting students to a dedicated, trusted adult
- Footscray High School – an example of building a sense of belonging to school
- Footscray High School – an example of use of data and partnering with families
- Hume Central Secondary College – an example of collaborating with primary schools
- Pakenham Secondary College – an example of an orientation day letter to families
- Reservoir High School – an example of providing direct and vicarious experiences of secondary school
- Reservoir High School – an example of students co-developing transition supports
Contact
Schools can send further examples of primary to secondary school transition practice to Secondary.School.Transition@education.vic.gov.au
Providing differentiated transition support
The Differentiated transition support resource contains more extensive guidance, including strategies and examples of how to implement differentiated support across the 4 phases. It also contains extensive resources relevant for students from priority cohorts, including students with disabilities and diverse learning needs, Koorie students, students who speak English as an additional language, and resources to support student mental health, wellbeing, engagement and safety.
The indicators of positive secondary school transition can be considered when identifying students who may need differentiated support:
Student Transition and Resilience Training
Student Transition and Resilience Training (START) includes:
- information on adolescent learning and development
- key predictors of positive resilience in young people
- strategies to enhance students’ learning and resilience during their transition from primary to secondary school.
The activities are intended to support students' ongoing reflection and personal development throughout their transition period, including students who may not have used the resource in primary school.
- Student Transition and Resilience Training full resource
- Student Transition and Resilience Training full resource
- Teacher resource
- Teacher resource
- Student workbook
- Student workbook
- Student handouts
- Student portfolio
- Student portfolio
Amplify
The Amplify provides access to a collection of purposefully created Amplify professional resources, and a curated and growing selection of external student voice, agency and leadership (SVAL) resources.
Student data transfer
A range of additional support materials have been developed to provide schools information and assistance with the student data transfer process.
- Support Services Tab: Quick Guide provides a summary of the information schools are required to enter in each field.
- CASES21 Restrictions/Risks Tab: Quick Guide provides a summary of student information schools are required to check and update in the Restrictions/Risks Tab prior to transferring to a school.
- Transferring 'foreseeable risk' Information Sheet provides information relating to identifying and, where appropriate, sharing and transferring information about foreseeable risks for students transferring to a new school.
For CASES21 support queries contact Service Desk on 1800 641 943.
Reviewed 09 January 2025