Supporting writing at the transition to secondary

Students face many challenges at the start of secondary and these can result in a dip in attainment across the board. Writing is especially cognitively demanding and is often an area of specific challenge. Even those students who arrived at secondary school having met the expectations of the primary curriculum could encounter challenges due to the following reasons:

• The way writing is taught may be different, including a variation in the expectations and strategies used in different subjects
• Their may be less scaffolding and support and fewer chances to share ideas and talk about their writing
• Writing tasks are likely to focus on more complex, academic styles - genres which do not feature in the primary curriculum
• Students use writing to demonstrate their understanding of new and challenging concepts and material
• Students encounter a a great deal of unfamiliar and subject-specific vocabulary

Supporting students at this critical stage in their education begins by looking back. An understanding of the primary curriculum, the expectations and the teaching methods used at primary schools to achieve those expectations, allows secondary teachers to meet students where they are and smooth the transition. This ensures students are set up for success as they progress through secondary school.

What you'll find in this resource

The resource includes materials that a school leader or literacy lead could use to run staff training for teachers of all subjects. It includes reference to the curriculums in all four nations of the UK.

The resource has two elements:

• Slides ready for use in staff training
• A guide for the session lead to support delivery

At the end of the slide deck is a reading list for those who want to delve deeper.