Easing the transition from KS2 to KS3 through work in the food area of technology

Transferring from primary to secondary school can be a very traumatic experience for children. At Phoenix School all effort is made, through a Primary Liaison Programme, to ensure that this transition is made as smoothly as possible. We do not concentrate on year 6 pupils but encourage all ages and abilities of pupils to visit the school throughout their nursery and primary school life. My presentation is an account of some of the activities which take place in the food area of a Technology Department. A series of slides show pupils at work in the area. Not only are they learning but they have fun when completing the projects. There are many problems which arise from this transition: knowing what experience the pupils have had previously; transferring information - how much, what type and how useful is it; assessment of levels for National Curriculum; the constraints of the National Curriculum Technology; time for staff from both schools to meet to discuss ideas for projects, progression and continuity.