Curriculum continuity - effective transfer between primary and secondary schools

The purpose of this booklet is to help schools to consider what more they can do to ensure curriculum continuity between the primary and secondary curriculum, so that pupils new to secondary school get off to a flying start. It complements the work being done in other places to support transfer of data and to develop pastoral support.

Curriculum continuity refers to

• knowing what topics and, in English, which texts have already been covered
• knowing what skills and understandings have already been established
• knowing the pace and style of previous lessons in the subject
• using this knowledge to launch pupils' secondary education in a way that will reassure them, challenge them and take their learning forward rapidly.

The booklet contains an introduction which looks at the issues and challenges for senior leadership teams, the use of bridging materials to support curriculum continuity and the role of teacher exchanges. There are sections for teachers to consider curriculum continuity in the context of their subject, covering English, mathematics, science, ICT and foundation subjects.

An accompanying DVD contains film sequences of headteachers, other senior managers, teachers and pupils talking about the important issues for them in relation to continuity in curriculum and teaching at transfer from primary to secondary schools and Year 6 and Year 7 lessons in English, mathematics and science, tracking some pupils from primary to secondary school.