Bridging the transition: Seeing Every Student through change

The move from one school phase to another – whether it’s starting school, changing schools, or progressing from primary to secondary – is one of the most significant moments in a child’s educational journey. Yet despite its importance, it’s often one of the most overlooked.

At Renaissance, we believe transition isn’t just a handover – it’s a hand-in-hand journey. One that calls for empathy, insight and joined-up tools to ensure every student is seen, understood and set up to succeed.

Why transition matters more than ever

The move from primary to secondary coincides with a period of intense neurological, emotional and social change. As Melissa Farnham (CEO of ASDAN) shared at this year’s Whole Education Summer Conference, this is a time when the brain undergoes significant restructuring. Stress levels spike, trusted relationships are disrupted and learning patterns shift.

Students often describe the experience as:

• “No one knew me.”
• “It felt like starting again.”
• “I didn’t feel ready.”

These aren’t just reflections – they’re calls to action.

Challenges in the transition from primary to secondary

Educators face a trio of transition challenges:

• Academic readiness: Students arrive with varied reading, numeracy, and language skills – shaped by their previous school experiences. These differences can influence how confident and prepared they feel for the next stage.
• Emotional wellbeing: The transition between primary and secondary can trigger anxiety, fatigue, and social stress – all of which can affect engagement. Students may feel overwhelmed by unfamiliar routines, new expectations, and the loss of trusted relationships.
• Continuity of support: Transitions can disrupt vital systems – including SEND provision, parental engagement, and pastoral care. Strengthening these connections ensures students continue to receive the support they need, without starting from scratch. 

Professor Jessie Ricketts explains: “There is concern about a transition slump in reading but the evidence doesn’t support this, instead these concerns seem to reflect changing expectations and shifting challenges as pupils move up to secondary.”

Rather than expecting students to struggle during the move to secondary school, we should focus on helping them keep going and growing. Professor Jessie Ricketts points out that what we often call a “transition slump” might not be a real drop in ability – it could just be how we’re seeing things.

If teachers don’t have the right information or support, it’s harder for them to understand what students need. But if we assume students will keep improving, and give staff the tools to help them, we can make the transition a positive step forward.

Stakeholder perspectives: a shared responsibility

The transition between primary and secondary is experienced differently by each stakeholder:

• Students worry about fitting in, getting lost and being forgotten.
• Parents feel anxious about reduced contact and the need to advocate for their child.
• Primary teachers want secondary colleagues to see the full picture of each child – not just test results.
• Secondary staff recognise the time it takes for students to settle, but may underestimate their capabilities.
• SEND professionals advocate for consistent support and collaborative planning.

These voices highlight the need for a more personalised, joined-up approach.

We believe in supporting schools to achieve measurable success through three key pillars:

1. Assess Students – See Every Student

Identify strengths, gaps, and potential using standardised data from Star Assessments, CAT4, NGRT and PASS. These insights help build a personalised plan for each student, highlighting academic needs and attitudinal barriers to learning – giving teachers clarity and assurance in the strategies they use to sustain progress.

2. Adapt Teaching – Reach every student

Tailor provision with confidence, whether supporting a student transitioning between primary and secondary or joining mid-year. WellComm supports speech and language development, while Nearpod enables real-time lesson adaptation to meet diverse needs. SEND support tools help ensure continuity, even when previous challenges were masked by familiar environments.

3. Accelerate Learning – Grow every student

Empower students to take ownership of their learning with Accelerated Reader, Freckle, myON, and myON News. These tools foster independent reading and maths engagement, helping students build stamina for complex texts and strengthen core skills for success in secondary school.

Stronger transitions, brighter futures

At Renaissance, we’re here to help you See Every Student – not just where they’ve been, but where they’re going.

By combining standardised data, insight, personalised learning and tailored resources, we can build transitions that are not only smoother but smarter. Transitions that empower students, reassure parents and equip both teachers and leaders to make confident, informed decisions.

Every student deserves to feel ready and recognised – not just on day one, but every day that follows.

If you’d like to explore how Renaissance can support your school or trust through key transition points – from early years to secondary and beyond – please get in touch. Together, we can ensure every student feels supported and ready for the journey ahead.