School Transition Study (STS)
- Project status: Active
Research area: Population Health > Adolescent Health
This study aims to support young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the transition from primary to secondary school.
The transition from primary to secondary school brings the excitement of increased independence and identity exploration.
However, it also brings the challenges of navigating an often new and unfamiliar school environment and curriculum, as well as disruptions to friendship networks. Declines in emotional wellbeing are common during this time, which can result in longer-term mental health problems and disengagement with school if the child is not adequately supported.
The transition can also provide an opportunity to build resilience and self-esteem.
The transition from primary to secondary school brings the excitement of increased independence and identity exploration.
However, it also brings the challenges of navigating an often new and unfamiliar school environment and curriculum, as well as...
The transition from primary to secondary school brings the excitement of increased independence and identity exploration.
However, it also brings the challenges of navigating an often new and unfamiliar school environment and curriculum, as well as disruptions to friendship networks. Declines in emotional wellbeing are common during this time, which can result in longer-term mental health problems and disengagement with school if the child is not adequately supported.
The transition can also provide an opportunity to build resilience and self-esteem.
Overview
The STS project has received funding from VicHealth to collaborate with a range of partners across the academic, government, education and not-for-profit sectors to design an intervention to support young people’s transition from primary to secondary school.
The intervention design has been informed by a range of activities, including:
- Analysis of an existing dataset: the Child to Adult Transition Study (CATS), which has been surveying over 1,200 Victorian students and parents since the middle primary school years.
- Surveys assessing Australian educators' perspectives on primary to secondary school transition support.
- Focus groups with students between Years 5 and 8, exploring their readiness for and experience of the transition.
- A systematic literature review examining the effectiveness of existing primary to secondary school transition interventions.
STS will be working with primary schools during Term 4 of 2023 to establish the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of its newly co-designed intervention, which comprises of:
- Information booklets for students, parents, and educators regarding the primary to secondary school transition.
- Short videos highlighting students' experiences of the transition.
- Transition-focused lesson plans and activity ideas for educators.
- A parent information session pack for educators to deliver.
Contact us
School Transition Study
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
The Royal Children's Hospital
50 Flemington Road
Parkville VIC 3052
Australia
Email:
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This project is supported by VicHealth.
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