The Compton School - From Transition to Transformation

Eight primary schools and three secondary schools in Barnet took part in this professional development project. Schools were organised by area into three clusters. Each had one secondary and two to three primary schools. The project supported curriculum continuity and consistency of teaching strategies and assessment in the transition from primary to secondary.

Secondary specialists worked with primary colleagues. They helped to plan, model and review practices in English/literacy. This helped build subject expertise. Primary teachers valued the advice and training from specialist classroom practitioners who were able to draw upon current, effective classroom practice.

Participating teachers in both primary and secondary schools welcomed the structured opportunity to collaborate, share effective approaches and the new classroom resources that were developed.

Data suggests that the project has boosted Year 6 target pupils who have made outstanding progress in level 5–6 writing. Year 7 pupils have also made outstanding progress in level 3–4 reading and good progress in level 3–4 writing.

The children have embraced my new teaching approach and have thrived... My children now love to read and understand a variety of texts.

Year 6 teacher

The Compton School was awarded further funding through the Subject Knowledge Hubs programme.

Literacy Transition Handbook - Pulls together key literacy approaches developed and evaluated by partners during the project. Available on request from the project.