Secondary teachers - what do you wish...

[yetiflowerpumpkin]

...that primary school teachers knew?

I teach in UKS2 in a primary school and I often wonder what the secondary school teachers wish we knew in order to get the children ready for secondary.

Do you think primary schools do enough to prepare kids for secondary?

I know we have handover notes, but if you could go into a primary school year 6, what honest advice would give the staff? Would you give any direct advice to the upcoming year 7s themselves?

(When we occasionally see our old year 6s they always tell us it's so strict and they wish they were back in primary - although some of them couldn't wait to leave us!)

As an ex primary teacher, the lack of maths and science knowledge I saw in colleagues was sometimes quite shocking.

Don’t ignore behaviour and SEND issues and please tell us the truth about students moving up.

Could you clarify on how that would help with transition regarding behaviour?

Or do you think it's the standard of teaching in those areas in primary that is causing a knock on effect on behaviour?

Surely the lack of knowledge would be covered in the curriculum? Not really something a teacher can ignore so why do you think there's a lack of knowledge? Were colleagues just not covering the curriculum?

Thank you.

I have to say we are pretty honest in our transition notes and conversations. I don't know why any primary school teacher would not be honest about their students in handover to secondary.

With regards to behaviour and SEND, are you saying to not ignore it in primary? Or in the handover notes?

My husband often says this. The jump from primary to secondary is overwhelming academically for many students also the understanding of working to an acceptable level and not faff around.

But how does that work if the teachers in primary are following the curriculum - isn't it the curriculum that is at fault?

Working to an acceptable level and faff around. Believe me it's not for lack of trying! But most days I have children with anxiety struggling to come into school or those with significant SEND or cognitive issues needing more support that I can give. My students range from expected to 4 years behind academically.

We also have a detention system in primary, so for those refusing to work or mess around, our hands are tied.

Many students are simply unaware of curriculum, have very little or no work ethic and are struggling being in a clasd with 30 others people. But learning by doing - or so.

But tbh a lot of children leaving primary school aren't ready for secondary school and no one is to be blamed really.

Sorry, should've said we DON'T have a detention system in place in primary. I really should proof read better before pressing 'post'!

I'm not looking at where blame lies - more about how the system currently works and what changes secondary teachers would suggest would be useful to ease transition (and if it's something primary can accommodate. I know our Yr6s think they are 'done' after they've done their SATs and it's a real struggle to get them focused in class. I'd bin SATs if I could, or hold them later than May. Could you imagine trying to get yr11s focused in a class for learning after GCSEs, until mid/late July when Term 6 ends?

I wonder if 'through schools', who have Reception year all the way through to GCSEs, see a similar issue or if it's smoother with transition.

I think how tough the rules are can come as a shock to the system. I'm currently working in a primary but I spent a lot of time in secondary and I'm not sure that kids are prepared for the shift between 'kind hands, please X' 'We need to say sorry to Y for not having kind hands' and secondary where that same behaviour would have got you in the behaviour support room in isolation!

Thats what I’m thinking too. There’s a lot of restorative discussion during lessons and a little bit at lunch too if any incidents occur but there’s no detentions or similar in the way of consequences. I look at some of our year 6s and wonder how they will cope when those consequences are put in place.

My DD can't wait for a more structured and disciplined system. She has really struggled with the behaviour of peers in primary - lack of focus, screaming out answers etc.
Roll on September