Transforming primary-secondary school transitions
Join us on Thursday, 21 May to discuss the challenges that children face when transitioning from primary to secondary education, and what can be done to support them.
Primary-secondary school transitions are emotionally demanding, critical periods for two thirds of children. Timely support is crucial, yet, in practice, the multiple and disparate challenges that these transitions present can be difficult to manage, especially without a clear and consistent policy framework and guidance.
Educational practitioners have raised issues of not knowing what to prioritise, how, and when. This has resulted in support for transition being locally interpreted by schools and local authorities, leading to variation in quality and implementation.
Research from The University of Manchester can show which aspects of moving to secondary school children are worried about, who might be particularly vulnerable, and what universal and targeted support could be useful. This has the potential to improve the mental health and educational trajectories of children across the life course, reducing long-term inequalities.
The #P-S WELLS research project addresses this through three interconnected workstreams, designed to understand and address the public health crisis in children's emotional wellbeing. They involve monitoring children's emotional wellbeing; the design, implementation and evaluation of a transition-focused curriculum; and the development of a national primary-secondary school transition strategy.
Join Dr Charlotte Bagnall to hear about the #P-S WELLS scale, how the research team are working to ensure a consistent approach to primary-secondary transitions, and what this means for local authorities.
Speakers
- Dr Charlotte Bagnall, Senior Lecturer in Psychology of Education
- Further speakers TBA
When: Thursday, 21 May 2026, 10-11.30am (registration from 9.30am)
Where: The University of Manchester (room details provided upon registration)
To Register: Please email policy@manchester.ac.uk with your name, job title, organisation, and any dietary or access requirements or support needs.