Moving Up, a recent study into the transition from primary to post primary states, "most students reported settling into post primary within the first week". (Smyth, McCoy and Darmody)
Do you agree or disagree?
What is your experience?
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Hi Patricia, it's a long time since I moved primary to secondary school but I don't recall the transition being especially traumatic. I definitely think I settled in pretty quickly
ReplyDeleteHi Grainne, I did it. I found your comment. At last. Me too, I came home smiling from my first day at secondary and couldn't wait to get back for more!
ReplyDeleteI don't recall my own move from primary to secondary being in any way traumatic. Nowadays though I think children have a lot more to contend with. As well as living in a society where both parents have to work,they have to deal with bullying, drugs, drink, depression, sex and many other emotional stresses which were unheard of in my day. It took a long time for my 15 year old son to settle into secondary school. He was even surprised at how stressful he found it as he was really looking forward to it when he left primary school. I remember him saying that he couldn't understand why all his classmates were crying and hugging each other when most of them were going to be in first year together. He was really looking forward to the challenge of secondary school but wasn't at all prepared for the change when it did happen. He found the timetabling and numerous teachers and subjects hard to get used to. He only really began to settle in in the January of his second year. Some of friends had difficulty settling in too, the stress of the change coming out in the form of physical illness (e.g. one of his friends began to have bouts of asthma again which he hadn't suffered from since he was 8 years old). Thankfully he's well settled in now and getting on great!! Roll on University!!! I thnk blogs like this should be available to parents and schools. We felt very much at sea when it came to helping our son settle into secondary school. Reading the advice of other parents would've been a great help to us. Keep up the good work Patricia.
ReplyDeleteMost of our class moved on to 1st year together, and as far as I remember there were no huge probs. I remember my first day though, I was late, and the Head Brother thundered to me in front of everyone that I was the 'first boy in posterity' to be late on his first day.
ReplyDeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteWhat you said about the new things he had to get used to is reflected accurately in a book called Moving Up produced by the NCCA and the ESRI. It has suggested that some of the key things new students to secondary have to get used to aretimetables, new subjects, new teachers and a new physical environement. It's a good read. I'll post the book name fully on the blog. Thanks again.
Patricia
Great site Patricia.I didnt personally have any problems settling into secondary school.My oldersister and I went together so perhpas that was helpful
ReplyDeleteHi Patricia,found your blog! It's great.I felt very nervous on my first day in Secondary school as we were being streamed.Thankfully I managed to get into the "good" class and settled down after that!Siobhan
ReplyDeleteThe blog looks great Patricia. I teach primary school children and there is always a mix of fear and excitement as the move to secondary level approaches. Leaving the comfort of what is familiar and safe in priamry school and 'moving up' to a whole new environment can be really daunting. I think having a day in the school before the new term starts and finding your classrooms, meeting with your class tutor and subject teachers and mentors is also really helpful. For some pupils there is definately a longer period of adjustment while for others they find there feet much quicker. As long as there is plenty of support from the school and home eventually everyone gets settled in.
ReplyDeleteI found the move quite daunting as I was put in a different class to my friends. I know this may sound strange but I found the transition a bit uncomfortable as I was in an all girls primary school and a co-ed secondary school. I wasn't used of being surrounded by boys and I wasn't "myself" for a number of weeks until i got used of them. Funny eh? My friends had the same issue and we suddenly cared about what we looked like. Your image all of a sudden became important. Thankfully, this passed but I think it's something to consider for students.
ReplyDeleteAisling, I'd agree with that. Most students settle down within the first month but for some it could take up to the end of first year. Luckily they are in the minority.
ReplyDeletePatricia
Caroline, that's a really interesting point you made. The adolescent stage is one where young people are becoming more aware of themselves-and needless to say- girls going into school where there are boys will certainly be more self conscious. Again reseacrch shows that students who have a positive sense of self are more likely to settle in faster to secondary school.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. Patricia
Patricia, I remember taking a little while to settle in to secondary school. All the new things like lockers, moving classrooms, so many new teachers, being seperated from friends and being amongst the smallest in the school.
ReplyDeleteWe had a Big Sister programme with the sixth years and I found that a great help. Our sixth Year prefect also spent one class period per week with our class supervising us (an extended lunch break.) She helped all the class process what was going on in our new environment, and offered support and advice. Also having an older cousin in the school was very reassuring.
Once Mid-term break arrived I believe I had fully settled in and loved every minute of it from then on.
Catriona,
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the big sister spending time with 1st years every week, talking to you and listening to your concerns.A few people have also mentioned the fact that they had a relation in the school made a diffence to them. This is good to know. It means those who are on the own would need to be watched more closely by the pastoral care team. We've also noted the idea that they are now the smallest in the school when they had been the biggest is a difficult one to swallow. Thanks for the comments, and keep blogging.
Patricia