Transitions into Higher Education Karen Grimshaw North East

‘Transitions’ into Higher Education Karen Grimshaw North East Wales Institute of Higher Education

Content • Rationale; • Acknowledgements; • The importance of transitions; • Case study; • Key findings; • Implications for future practice.

Rationale • Previous work/experiences; • Learner needs; • Retention; • Government policy; • Continued research opportunities.

Acknowledgements • Previous work on transitions – Dr Hilary Fabian; • Students involved in the case study.

Transitions • Going through a transition can be seen as • • possible life-change; Socio-emotional well being during a transition can lead to continuing; development - being in control; Admissions systems, ways of providing information, organisation etc can bring additional demands and anxiety but also the excitement of something new.

Case Study • Students starting HE; • Twenty 6 th formers 2005 -07 some of whom were considering going to university; • Twenty Year 1 ECS students – 2005 cohort, – Questionnaires at end of first and fourth teaching week and at beginning of second semester; – Staff questionnaire at end of fourth week.

Key Findings • Supportive structures; • Communication; • Culture; • Friendships/interactions; • Accommodation; • Demands; • Independence.

Implications • Delivery of information; • Staffing roles; • Interview process; • Induction; • Access to staff/support networks; • Monitoring attendance; • Retention and achievement.

Further Reading Ballinger, A. (2000). Psychological Dimensions to Transition. A paper presented at the Wiltshire County Council ‘Smoothing out Turbulence’ conference 6 th July 2000. Bradford-on-Avon, Bath. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. Department of Education and Science. (1967) Children and their Primary Schools. A Report by the Central Advisory Council for Education, chaired by Lady Plowden. London: HMSO Dunlop, A. W. (2002) ‘Bridging Early educational Transitions in Learning through Children’s Agency’ in European Early Childhood Education Research Journal Themed Monograph Series 1: transitions Fabian, H. (2002). ‘Empowering children for transitions’ in Fabian, H. and Dunlop, A. W. Eds. Transitions in the Early Years. 2002. London: Routledge. Falmer Publishers. Fabian, H. (2002). Children Starting School. London, David Fulton Publishers. Mott, G. (2002). Children on the Move: Helping High Mobility Schools and their Pupils. Slough: National Foundation for Educational Research. Office for Standards in Education. (2002). Managing Pupil Mobility (Reference number HMI 403 www. ofsted. gov. uk/public/docs 2/managingmobility. pdf). Pollock, D. C. and Van Reken, R. E. (2001) Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds. Maine: Intercultural Press. Strand, S. (2002). ‘Pupil Mobility, Attainment and Progress during Key Stage 1: a study in cautious interpretation’, British Educational Research Journal. 28(1), 63 -78. Van Gennep, A. (1960). Rites of Passage. (Translation by Vizedom, M. B. and Caffee, G. L. ). London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.