Bo'ness Academy
Gauze Road
Bo'ness
EH51 9AS

Tel. 01506 822028
Fax 01506 778801

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Making the transition from P7 to S1

The term transition means moving from one place, stage and cycle or subject to another. For all pupils in P7 the transition from primary to secondary means the end of at least 7 years in which they have developed through some of the most important stages of their life with a group of friends and usually within the same school. When pupils enter Primary 1 they are dependent on the key adults around about them for help and support. Yet by the time they leave their 7th year at primary school many pupils will have become the carers of younger pupils in the school and will have taken on the responsibilities of being a young adult. Just when they are feeling confident and their self-esteem is high they are plucked out of their "comfort zone" and end up in a secondary school where once again they are the youngest pupils in the school, where they don't know the adults, the building, some of the subjects being taught and even their friends may be in different classes. They may find it hard to imagine themselves as an S5 or S6 pupil in the school probably because they look more like adults than children.

Transition is a challenging time for all pupils. They need to let go of their years at primary and look forward to the new experiences and challenges ahead. Emotions are mixed. There are feelings of excitement, fear, anxiety and sometimes even relief if they feel you have outgrown their primary years. The important thing to remember is that everyone goes through the same experiences together. Some pupils adapt very quickly, others take longer. There is no hard and fast rule of how to do it and no magic potion to make it happen. However everyone will get there in the end.

Most children manage the transition from primary to secondary school successfully although the anticipation of the unknown can be daunting and scary.  Some pupils have additional difficulties which mean they might require some extra help to manage the process of change.  They leave behind the familiarity of their old school and the trusted relationships they have developed within the staff group.  It is a time when some children need extra support to manage their feelings and anxieties.  The task of the Transition Group is to provide this additional support to all young people and their families during P7 and S1 who require it in order that the impact of change can feel safe and manageable.

Most of the work is carried out by Elaine Fish and Linda Assur.  They have worked with the school for numerous years and are a vital part of the transition process.  Over the last two years as well as working with P7 and S1 pupils they have trained a large number of S3-6 pupils to work as “buddies” with the junior pupils.

Feedback from children on our transitions work:

Feedback from parents / carers on our transitions work:

The ILC ( Integrated Learning Community) are also in school to help with any problems

Primary pupils will have met several members of staff from the Academy when the staff have visited the Primary Schools to pass on information about the Academy. Have a look at the Management Team and House Leaders page and see who you recognise. Then try the quiz page and run the mouse over the photos to check your answers.

The Management Team and House Leaders | How your day is organised in Bo'ness Academy | Who is this - Quiz

Listen to Pupils talking about life in the Academy

Moving Up : Set Classes : Other Subjects : Rewards