Make Transitions Work for Every Student (inclusion)

For a pupil with SEND, or one who's already behind, a change of school can undo a lot of good work. New buildings, new adults and a curriculum that doesn't join up hit them hardest.

You'll learn what makes the difference: primary and secondary staff working as equal partners, visits and induction planned well before September, and support that's shaped around the pupils who need it most. One practical model is a teaching assistant dedicated to transition, who starts meeting vulnerable pupils in Year 5 and takes small groups on repeat visits to their new school.

The most useful information about a new Year 7 isn't in their SATs scores, either. Their Year 6 teacher knows what motivates them and what they can do outside test conditions, and a cross-phase partnership makes sure their new teachers hear it.