Students’ Voices for Improving the Transition to Secondary School

The transition from primary to secondary school can evoke both excitement and anxiety for students. While many adapt well, some face ongoing challenges. Schools offer various support activities, but research on their effectiveness is limited. This study explored students’ perspectives on the transition, their experiences with school-based supports, and potential improvements. Focus groups with 33 students from Years 5–8 across government, Catholic and independent schools in Victoria, Australia were conducted and analysed using inductive thematic analysis, yielding three themes and 14 subthemes. Students reported excitement tempered by apprehension, understood necessary secondary school skills, and identified needed supports. To improve the transition, students suggested more opportunities to practice independence, gradual transition, immersion in secondary school, and increased interaction with secondary students. The study discusses opportunities for implementing these recommendations within educational policy and practice including developing resources to support successful transitions.