Summer Schools and Classes
Many schools organise classes and workshops during the summer holidays to help Year 6 pupils cope with the transition process. Learning mentors work with pupils during the holidays, near the start of the autumn term. They organise activities where children can get to know each other, but they also discuss children¹s expectation of their new school and what will be expected of them when they move in to Year 7. This is a useful way of familiarising children with their new school and dispelling myths about it.
University of the First Age (UFA)
UFA works with 20 partner schools in Leeds. At each partner school, two staff members are signed up as UFA fellows and each receives ten day's training over a two-year period. There is no charge to the school; their only commitment is to release the teachers for the training.
The training focuses on accelerated learning techniques and is brain-based. One of its key principles is that of multiple intelligences based on the work of Howard Gardner. This suggests that although we all have a preferred learning style, it is possible and desirable for us to develop other styles. Multiple intelligences describes a set of equally valuable abilities and skills that can be developed and improved such as linguistic, physical, inter-personal, spatial and logical intelligence.
The aim of the summer schools is for children to take control of their learning. Once they have discovered their preferred learning style, they can exploit this knowledge and tell their teachers about it.
They learn that there are different sorts of 'smart'. You can be self smart if you know yourself well, or you can be body smart if you are good a games. This reinforces the idea that there are different types of intelligence and everyone does not have to be good at the same things.
Partner schools start by holding a Super Learning Day in school that helps children to find their preferred learning method: visual, kinesthetic or auditory. This is followed by a summer school. The selection criteria for the summer school are quite strict so that a balance of gifted and talented pupils and those with special educational needs are included. The mix of summer school students should replicate the ethnic profile of school.
The summer schools are challenge based. At one Leeds secondary school, participants were asked to create a South African Juice Bar. Activities are branded as UFA, thus giving children a sense of belonging to two important organisations: their school and the UFA.
Other Clubs
One high school has a Saturday morning dance and drama club to which children from local primary schools are invited. This helps not only to build their confidence in helping them to mix with other pupils, but also makes it easier for them to find their way around when they transfer to the high school.
A number of primary schools use Circle time as a forum for discussing issues related to transition.
S.M.A.R.T - A document for staff working on, or thinking of developing a transitional educational project in their school
Download the S.M.A.R.T planner
