The Impact of School Transitions and Transfers on Pupil Progress and Attainment

TABLE OF CONTENTS
<strong>Transitions</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Transfers</strong>: A Review
1. INTRODUCTION 1
<strong>The</strong> conduct <strong>of</strong> the study 1
Studies <strong>of</strong> transition <strong>and</strong> transfer 2
2. TRANSITIONS, TRANSFERS & PUPIL PROGRESS 4
A: THE EVIDENCE
Evidence from pr<strong>of</strong>essional judgements 4
<strong>The</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> transitions on pupil progress 6
<strong>The</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> transfer on pupil progress 8
<strong>The</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> transfer on pupil attitudes 10
Progress <strong>and</strong> disengagement: an overview 11
B: SOME EXPLANATIONS
Why do pupils lose ground at transfer? 12
Why do pupils lose ground at key transition points? 14
C: ‘VULNERABLE’ GROUPS AND SUBJECTS
‘Vulnerable’ groups 16
‘Vulnerable’ subjects at Key Stage 3 17
3: RESPONDING TO THE ISSUES 20
A: TRANSFER
Why schools still find transfer a problem 20
How schools are currently coping with transfer 22
Some examples <strong>of</strong> recent/innovative transfer strategies 25
B: TRANSITIONS
How schools are responding to problems <strong>of</strong> transition 27
4. SUGGESTIONS FOR ACTION ON TRANSFERS & TRANSITIONS 29
5: CONCLUSIONS 31
REFERENCES 32
LIST OF SCHOOLS, LEAs <strong>and</strong> OTHER ORGANISATIONS
CONTRIBUTING EVIDENCE 37
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